Jakarta – The Bandar Lampung branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has expressed concern that the intelligence bill, currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives, will pose a threat to press freedom.

"There's a big possibility that the bill will grant unlimited authority to the intelligence in performing its preventive and security functions," AJI Bandar Lampung chief Wakos Reza Gautama said Sunday in the Lampung capital.

He said on the grounds of security anticipation, the bill might allow intelligence officers to kidnap and intimidate journalists allegedly holding confidential data deemed a threat to state security when leaked.

"Look at how at present journalists can still face criminal charges, despite the press freedom law. If no one guards the deliberations of the intelligence bill, not only press freedom, but our democracy will be threatened," Wakos said as quoted by Antara.

He called on the press, along with civil society groups, academicians and the public at large, to intensively oversee the deliberations of the contentious bill.