Television and radio stations should conduct thorough and proper screening of religious preachers before giving them airtime because citizens often considered electronic media as a source of trustworthy information, the Ministry's secretary-general, Nur Syam, said.

"We are sometimes disappointed that figures who we know as radicals are invited [onto shows] as speakers. Television and radio stations should be aware of [the need for] conducting proper screening," Nur Syam said during a hearing at the House of Representatives.

He further urged lawmakers in the House special committee tasked with deliberating the Terrorism Law to insert articles in the terrorism bill that would give officials the authority to ban media outlets that spread radical ideologies that went against the nation's ideology.

This would include hate speech, anti-nationalism, as well as provocations to commit violence toward certain persons or community groups, he went on.

Meanwhile, special committee member Martin Hutabarat from the Gerindra party said that aside from radical dakwah circulating on television and radio stations, the government should also monitor religious outreach programs conducted in houses of worship in order to prevent the spread of radicalism. (dmr)

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