Tangerang – Dozens of members of the Tangerang Journalists Working Group protested at the regency office in Tigaraksa on Tuesday to demand the regent apologize for threatening a reporter.

"We demand Regent Ismet Iskandar apologize for his conduct and for threatening to hit a journalist," the group's chairman, Eka Chandra, said. Chandra said the group would file a police complaint if the regent failed to issue an apology.

Regency administration spokesman Awaludin, who meet with the protesting journalists, said he would deliver the message to Ismet. "I will immediately deliver your demands to Pak Ismet and I also apologize for what happened between the regent and journalist yesterday," he said.

Ismet lost his temper Monday and had to be physically separated from Denny Irawan, a Tangerang-based journalist for Seputar Indonesia daily.

Denny asked Ismet about a graft allegation involving the regent and a Rp 9.2 billion (US$978,723) transfer from tap water operator PDAM Tirta Kerta Raharja, on top of a Rp 9.5 billion transfer Ismet had earlier confirmed.

Ismet told the journalist he borrowed Rp 9.5 billion for Tangerang's soccer team (Persita). Denny repeated his question, clarifying that he was asking about a separate alleged transfer of Rp 9.2 billion.

"Nothing, nothing, that's not true. What do you want, you want me to hit you?" the regent responded, while extending his fist toward the journalist.