Ismira Lutfia & Dessy Sagita – Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam's call for government institutions to implement an advertising boycott on media organizations deemed too critical of the administration is tantamount to abuse of power, the chief editor of a top television station has said.

Suryopratomo, from Metro TV, said on Tuesday that he was personally saddened by Dipo's recent attack on media organizations. The cabinet secretary said Metro TV, TVOne and Media Indonesia newspaper were spreading hatred against the government through their newsrooms.

"What we are reporting is fact. There has been no fabrication whatsoever," Suryopratomo said. "We truly respect journalistic ethics. We will never condone hatred."

"It really saddens me to see that this is the quality of our public officials," he added, a day after Dipo lashed out at the media for portraying Indonesia as a "messy and dark" country.

"Even SBY [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] himself said that media coverage wasn't one of the five problems that have held back Indonesia's development," Suryopratomo said. "So where's the logic?"

Dipo, in making his claims, pointed to the extensive coverage by the two television stations of the deadly riot in North Jakarta last year and the mob attack on an Ahmadiyah community in Banten two weeks ago that left three dead.

"It scared my grandchildren," Dipo said, adding that state officials should decline requests for interviews from such media organizations.

He also said he suspected there were hidden motives behind the criticism. "There is a difference between [constructive] criticism and lambasting the government," he said. "They are actually lambasting the government. Lambasting possesses the tendency to spread hatred. The purpose is not purely to spread news."

TV One's news and sports manager, Totok Sudaryanto, said Dipo's statements were ridiculous. "What kind of government doesn't need critics?" he said.

He said Dipo's claim that TVOne had spread hatred was offensive and that if he had any objection, he should have filed a complaint with the Press Council or the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).

Totok added that TVOne's management was discussing how to respond to Dipo's claims. "We are studying the situation," he said. "It could result in legal action. We'll see."