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Seven TV stations and one radio station reprimanded by the Central Java Broadcasting Commission over programming deemed offensive to public decency say they will heed the warning.

The commission, known as the KPID, sent warning letters dated June 10 castigating the broadcasters over programing ranging from a discussion on vaginoplasty to racy dangdut performances to an infomercial on holistic healing.

The stations in question are national broadcasters SCTV, RCTI, Indosiar, Trans TV and TVRI, as well as Solo’s TA TV and Semarang’s PRO TV. The radio station is Musvia FM in Magelang.

Trans TV was written up for its June 4 broadcast of the “Investigasi Selebriti” gossip show in which actress Julia Perez spoke about vaginoplasty.

“They clearly violated programming standards requiring them to comply with prevailing norms, civility and public decency, as well as privacy and personal rights,” the KPID’s Zainal Abidin Petir said.

Julia was also the cause for the censure of Indosiar, after she appeared on the show “Kiss” wearing what the KPID said was “a very skimpy skirt.”

PRO TV and Musvia FM, meanwhile, were reprimanded for failing to play the national anthem at the start and end of their broadcasts.

PRO TV bureau chief Denny Reksa said the violation was not deliberate.

“It was a technical error,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday. “Our database is in a bit of a mess, and the operator put on the wrong track. Instead of playing the anthem, ‘Indonesia Raya,’ he played one of the nationalist songs, ‘Indonesia Pusaka.’ ”

Denny insisted the incident happened only once, on June 4, and that PRO TV had played the national anthem ever since. He said the broadcaster had formally responded to the warning letter and added that he understood the commission was simply doing its job.

“Reprimands are the best way to keep the order when there are so many private TV stations in the sector,” Denny said.

Meanwhile, SCTV was warned over a racy performance by dangdut group Trio Macan on its “Inbox” music show on May 26, and over singer Dewi Persik “shaking her breasts” during a performance on the “SCTV Music Awards” on May 29.

SCTV spokeswoman Uki Hastama told the Globe the broadcaster was still deciding its response to the KPID.

“We always appreciate and follow up on any feedback or reprimands from the broadcasting commission,” she said.

A similar performance by Persik that aired on May 26 on the RCTI music show “Dahsyat” also resulted in a written warning for the broadcaster.

RCTI spokesman Gilang Iskandar said: “We welcome the reprimand as feedback to improve and evaluate our programming in accordance with the broadcasting code of conduct.”

Andi Firman, head of programming and business development at state-owned TVRI’s Central Java bureau, said he had requested clarification from advertiser Tri Tunggal, whose June 6 slot on holistic healing was criticized by the KPID as being “irrational.”

The infomercial promoted reciting the Koran to treat a host of ailments.

“Those verses should never be used in that way,” the KPID’s Zainal said.

Andi concurred, saying: “We’ve ordered Tri Tunggal to stop using holy verses in healing spells. If they still want to advertise we’ll only allow them to plug their herbal remedies.”

TVRI has also moved the program from the 6 p.m. time slot to 10 p.m., as ordered by the broadcasting commission.

Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) chairman Dadang Rahmat Hidayat said each regional commission was authorized to take whatever steps it deemed necessary.

“Sometimes it comes down to local values and sensibilities,” he said. “A show may be perfectly acceptable in one region but may not be appropriate in another because of the different ethnic and cultural demographics.

And the best authority on local values are the KPIDs.”

Meanwhile, the Central Java KPID has set up a Monitoring Group for Radio and Television Broadcasts, which reports on content deemed pornographic, offensive to ethnic, religious or racial sensibilities, demeaning or containing scenes of gambling.

It will also monitor advertising that is misleading, offends religious values or offers “irrational” alternative healing, and other content deemed in violation of social norms.

“We hope the public helps build a healthy broadcast environment,” Zainal said.