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Tweeting minister scorned over jokes about AIDS
JAKARTA: Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring yesterday joked about AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients via his personal Twitter account, @tifsembiring
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J
AKARTA: Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring yesterday joked about AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients via his personal Twitter account, @tifsembiring.
In one of his updates posted on Wednesday at around 9:30 p.m., Tifatul said AIDS stood for Akibat Itunya Ditaruh Sembarangan, meaning in English, “caused by reckless use of one’s penis”. He was quoting former health minister Sujudi’s remark on AIDS.
Numerous Twitter users found Tifatul’s remarks offensive.
News anchor, Desi Anwar, whose account is @desianwar, said in her status update, “Dear Mr. @tifsembiring, listen to me. If you cannot tweet properly and correctly, you’d better stay silent.”
A journalist, Candra Malik, in his account @candramalik, said “AIDS is a health issue, not a joke, Mr. @tifsembiring”.
Tifatul, in his defense, said that anyone had the right to voice their opinions on Twitter and he did not intend to offend AIDS patients, and he only quoted the remark of a professor who wanted to make the disease easier to remember. — JP
