T

he House of Representatives urged the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) on Monday to conduct a comprehensive review of 10 television whose broadcasting permits expire this year.

The TV stations that will see their broadcasting permits expire this year are ANTV, Global TV, Indosiar, MNCTV, RCTI, SCTV, Trans TV, Trans 7, TV One and Metro TV.

Metro TV will have to renew its permit in December, while the permits held by the other broadcasters expire in October.

'€œInstead of basing its recommendations on reported broadcasting violations, the KPI must holistically review from the beginning of the issuance of their permits, meaning 10 years ago. It is too subjective to only use the violation cases as its warp and woof,'€ said Effendi Simbolon, member of House Commission I overseeing foreign affairs and information during a hearing with the KPI.

He was referring to the 266 sanctions imposed by the KPI on broadcasters last year, up from 184 in 2014. The commission had handed out 36 reprimands as of February.

The violations were mostly related to unsuitable programs for children and teenagers, moral ethics and journalistic principles.

'€œThe comprehensive review will enlighten the KPI in sorting out the good and the bad of every program aired by the 10 TV channels,'€ Dave Laksono of Commission I said.

The 2002 Broadcasting Law stipulates that the government will issue or extend broadcasting permits upon receiving recommendations from the KPI regarding the channel'€™s broadcasting feasibility.

Representing the Indonesian Television Broadcasting Association (APTVSI), MNCTV head of newsroom Arya Sinulingga said that every TV channel had tried to cut the number of violations of the Broadcasting Law, which are the basis of the KPI sanctions.

'€œThe government should pay more attention to the use of gadgets by children, as they are more prone to hazardous content from the internet,'€ Arya said.

Amid the skyrocketing number of sanctions in 2015, KPI chairman Judhariksawan said the commission saw some improvements by the broadcasters.

'€œThe amount of erotic dancing, explicit bullying or effeminate men aired last year plummeted,'€ he said.

The commission had issued a circular to broadcasting institutions prohibiting the airing of '€œeffeminate men'€, particularly on television shows.

Many have criticized the prohibition, including philosophy lecturer at the University of Indonesia (UI) Rocky Gerung and the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

'€œThe basis of the letter is simple patriarchy. The psychological subtext is an implication that femininity is a nest of sin and females are the root of all evil,'€ Rocky said.

Komnas Perempuan head Yunianti Chuzaifah said that the circular '€œinterferes with freedom of expression'€. (mos)