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Marzuki Blames Media for House’s Poor Image
Markus Junianto Sihaloho | January 10, 2012

House Speaker Marzuki Alie. (Antara Photo) House Speaker Marzuki Alie. (Antara Photo)
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Kesiangan
1:55pm Jan 12, 2012

Marzuki is clueless and clueless politicians always blame the press.

pdkn
12:09am Jan 11, 2012

Winston Churchill said, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few."

For Mr. Marzuki: "Never was so much damage made by Marzuki to so many."

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Indonesia's outspoken House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie has defended his accusation that the news media is unfairly critical of the legislature unless lawmakers buy advertising.

“When it comes to advertisements, that is what happens. But not all media. There are some professionals media outlets, but then there are those that are constantly harassing the DPR [House],” he said. “I talked about this issue of advertising during a plenary session and there is no intention to defame anybody. [I’m] just simply stating a fact.”

During a House plenary session on Monday, Marzuki told lawmakers and attending journalists that the legislature had to buy advertisements in newspapers and on television for positive coverage.

“The DPR’s activity is only seen positively if there are blocks of House advertising in the mass media,” he said at the session.

The statement was swiftly met with vocal opposition by lawmakers.

“A House speaker should not say such things,” said Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Maruarar Sirait, who said the media was the voice of the public.

“The speaker had undermined the role of the media as a pillar of democracy. There is something wrong with [Marzuki] personally to make him keep making these controversial remarks.”

Marzuki is notorious for courting controversy, including through comments that people living in coastal areas have themselves to blame when a tsunami strikes or that Indonesian migrant workers deserve to be abused for being incompetent.

Uchok Sky Khadafi, from the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra), said Marzuki had offended everyone who was critical of the House, including activists.

But Marzuki later insisted that his remarks had been taken out of context.

“After saying that, I told [lawmakers] that we often make visits to the provinces but we never get media coverage. When they do cover the visits, they just quote some statements,” he said. “That is why we have to advertise to give a full explanation of what the DPR has achieved.”

Coordinator of the group Concerned Citizens for the Indonesian Legislature (Formappi), Sebastian Salang, said Marzuki had demonstrated poor leadership by failing to set a good example for other lawmakers.

“In 2011, the House speaker made numerous blunders and many controversial remarks. This is damaging the House’s reputation and good image, and he is not setting a good example,” he said. “That’s why we see so many controversial statements from the House.”