T

he Coalition for Broadcasting Reform has lambasted the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) for what it sees as the KPI'€™s tardiness in responding to complaints from the public and weakness in enforcing broadcasting regulations.

In 2015, television watchdog Remotivi, through its application Rapotivi, recorded 853 verified complaints from the public regarding television programs deemed in violation of broadcasting regulations. Around 120 complaints related to frequent advertisements for the United Indonesia Party (Perindo) on several TV stations belonging to the Media Nusantara Citra group controlled by media mogul and politician Hary Tanoesoedibjo.

According to Remotivi director Muhamad Heychael, the adverts violated the commission'€™s 2012 broadcasting guidelines on program standards, which stipulate that no TV program may promote private or political interests over the public interest.

'€œWe submitted the complaint reports to the KPI every week last year, but the commission has followed up only 10 percent of them so far. It hasn'€™t even published the number of public complaints it received over the course of the year,'€ Heychael said.

TIFA Foundation researcher R. Kristiawan said that Indonesia had adequate broadcasting regulations, but responsible institutions were weak in implementing them.

'€œIt would be perfect if the KPI could work optimally. It has power and authority, but seems to be under the sway of certain players within the broadcasting industry,'€ Kristiawan said.

The coalition also criticized the commission for its lack of transparency in dealing with broadcasting licensing and for not publishing reports on station performance.

The group called on the House of the Representatives to immediately evaluate the KPI'€™s performance and to be transparent in the selection of new KPI commissioners, which is scheduled for June this year.

In response, KPI deputy chairman Idy Muzayyad said that his commission regularly sanctioned TV stations proven to have violated regulations, and had issued recommendations to the Communication and Information Ministry to revoke the broadcasting licenses of two stations for their excessive coverage of political candidates and parties during 2014 general elections.

Idy acknowledged that repeated party political broadcasts constituted a violation, unless a multitude of parties were given equal airtime.

'€œThe KPI has no authority to revoke licenses. We can only give recommendations to the ministry. Our power and authority are very limited,'€ he said.

He claimed that the KPI had issued warnings to and recommended sanctions on several stations, but noted that stations were understandably loathe to publicize the reprimands.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker TB Hasanuddin from House Commission I overseeing information, defense and foreign affairs urged people not to blame the KPI alone and praised the commission for its work to date.

'€œPeople should be told that the KPI has the authority to issue warnings and reprimands, but that TV stations mostly ignore them,'€ Hasanuddin said.