Transparency in KPI Selection

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Analysts monitor national television broadcasts on Wednesday (1/8/2018) in the monitoring analysis room of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) in Jakarta. The results of the KPI’s Period I survey showed that several categories of television programs had not yet reached the commission’s quality index standard, including news (2.98), variety shows (2.51) and infotainment (2.35).

The selection of new members to the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has caused uproar, with several public organizations calling on President Joko “Jokowi” Widowo to postpone their installation.

As this daily reported, several organizations have expressed their objections to the non-transparent selection of KPI members for the 2019-2022 term, including Remotivi, the Alliance of Independent Journalists, and LBH Press. The organizations have asked President Jokowi to postpone installing the nine new KPI members elected by the House of Representatives (DPR).

The current KPI term ends on 27 July 2019. There is still time for President Jokowi to ensure that the KPI commissioners for the 2019-2022 term are figures who are independent, credible and capable of bringing the world of broadcasting to a better direction.

The public objection to the selection of the KPI members started from the lack of transparency on the part of the selection committee. One of the criticisms was that selection committee did not announce that KPI candidates it had proposed to the DPR. The only public announcement of KPI candidates came from DPR Commission I.

Several other elements of the public also questioned the selection committee’s "red carpet" treatment of a number of candidates. Is this appropriate? The selection committee must respond. In the selection process for the Corruption Eradication Commission leadership, its incumbent leaders followed the same selection process. If indeed different treatment occurred, this must of course be explained.

Even before the candidates for KPI commissioners were submitted to the DPR, the names were circulated in various media outlets. No one verified the names. Once the differences were pointed out between the candidate names circulating on social media and those selected by DPR Commission I, questions emerged regarding the transparency of the selection committee. These questions on whether the selection mechanism was communicated well and on commissioner candidates with doubtful track records can cause public distrust.

The KPI’s must face its future challenges in line with public interests. It must ensure that the public receives information that educates and strengthens our unity as a nation. The KPI commissioners must be empowered to be a bridge between the public and the television industry, which is facing digital disruption, and must also be a fair referee.

Public trust is needed to build healthy relationships between the government, the KPI, industry and the people. President Jokowi still has the responsibility for clearing up the various prejudices that are developing in some parts of the community.