Soeryo Winoto, Jakarta – It was quite a shock to learn Saturday of a minister's desire to have the political satire News Dot Com, or Republik Mimpi (Republic of Dreams) as it is otherwise known, withdrawn from television.
Information and Communications Minister Sofyan Djalil has accused the program, aired Sundays on Metro TV, of providing a negative political education.
The wizard behind the show, Effendy Gazali, said he was unaware of any complaints from those impersonated in she show, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The communications expert said the minister should pay more attention to television shows that are the true purveyors of bad taste, such as those that promote violence and supernatural themes.
Republik Mimpi is led by a fictitious president known as SBY (Si Butet Yogya), a name taken from the actor's name Butet Kartarajasa. SBY are also the famous initials of Indonesia's current president.
The parody features several figures impersonating Vice President Jusuf Kalla, former presidents Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, B.J. Habibie, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Suharto and Governor Sutiyoso. Topics discussed during the show relate to contemporary issues in Indonesia, which is referred to as "our neighboring country".
Whether or not the parody provides a negative political education is debatable. Before commenting, however, Sofyan should have looked at the actions of his fellow politicians from the House of Representatives or the regional council. Do their actions always provide a healthy political education to the public?
For example, is a negative political education not evident in the actions of politicians who travel abroad claiming to be conducting comparative studies or in the violent protests of the supporters of political candidates who fail to win elections? Such events regularly appear on television.
Images and programs broadcast on television every day disseminate messages about violence and improper behavior. Late last year public pressure contributed to the controversial TV program WWF:Smack Down being axed due to its violent content. However, other programs providing questionable moral guidance including sinetron (local soap operas) and unrealistic programs on the supernatural continue to be broadcast. Producers of programs with supernatural content may argue that they are encouraging people to believe in God. In reality they are pointing the public to the unrealistic world of mysticism.
Has Sofyan ever held an open discussion to voice his concerns about these programs? In this era of reform, is it really wrong to express political views and discuss controversial policies in a fun comedy?
Satirical TV shows such as Republik Mimpi are yet to inspire unrest or violence in the country. While some people use seminars or rallies as a forum to convey public disappointment, artists like musicians and poets use mediums such as music and poetry to express their dissatisfaction toward the government. Even politicians have the House of Representatives to express their opinions.
Sofyan's calls to have Republik Mimpi withdrawn from television are only proving to the nation that he emulates the New Order regime, which had a poor sense of humor and preferred using power to resolve even the most trivial of matters.
It seems the minister's complaints about Republik Mimpi are nothing more than a kind of political paranoia. Whether or not he likes the show is another question.
It would be more productive for the minister to dedicate his skills and expertise to more useful pursuits such as helping people emerge from hardships, rather than sparking unnecessary controversy. After all, humor is an integral part of our lives.
[The author is a staff writer at The Jakarta Post.]