Improve Communication and Performances of Both Parties

KOMPAS/WISNU WARDHANA DHANY

The office of state television company TVRI on Jl. Gerbang Pemuda in Senayan, Central Jakarta, as seen on Thursday (16/1/2019) night.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS—The dismissal of Helmy Yahya as president director of state-owned television station TVRI occurred after a series of problems that have plagued TVRI in recent years.

The greatest impact of all the problems is the sacrifice of the public interest. In a letter dated Jan. 16 regarding the announcement of the dismissal of Helmy, the Supervisory Board (Dewas), among others, questioned the financial management and performances of the TV station under the management of Helmy.

However, Supreme Audit Board (BPK) official Achsanul Qosasi confirmed that the financial problems at the TV station had been settled.

"There were findings of financial problems [at TVRI]. The directors have followed up. It means that it has been corrected and settled," he said in Jakarta on Friday (17/1).

Therefore, Achsanul said, the conflict between Dewas and the president director should come to an end. The BPK met Dewas officials on Thursday (16/1). During the meeting, Achsanul asked Dewas to also improve its performance and establish better communication with the board of directors.

The meeting was attended by four of the five members of Dewas. One of them was Supra Wimbarti, who opposed Helmy\'s dismissal. Supra also did not sign the letter on the dismissal (SPRP) of Helmy signed by issued by Dewas on Dec. 4, 2019.

"I did not sign the SPRP letter and did not attend the meeting because I was in Yogyakarta at that time," said Supra, who was in Yogyakarta when he was contacted.

The dismissal letter was issued following the failure of the board of directors to pay the salaries of TV station employees worth Rp 6.6 billion (US$471,428) in December 2018, which led to a strike and the temporary termination of broadcasting on Jan. 10, 2019.

The termination harmed the interest of the public because according to Article 4 of Government Regulation No. 13/2005 concerning the existence of TVRI, TVRI\'s duty is to provide information, education, healthy entertainment, community services and to preserve the nation\'s culture for the benefit of the people

ANTARA FOTO/INDRIANTO EKO SUWARSO

State television company TVRI president director Helmy Yahya (right), accompanied by his lawyer Chandra Hamzah (center), briefs reporters on his plan to take legal action against his removal by TVRI Supervisory Council in Jakarta on Friday (17/1/2020).

In response, Dewas sent a letter of reprimand to the president director on Jan. 11, 2019. Similar reprimands were also made by the House of Representatives Commission I during hearings on May 20, 2019, and Dec. 2, 2019. The House also questioned a number of foreign programs aired by the TVRI station.

Defense

Meanwhile, Helmy sent a letter of defense on Dec. 28, 2019 following the issuance of the letter of reprimand by Dewas. Supra said he had a number of questions after reading the 27-page letter of defense, with 1,200 pages of attachments.

Therefore, Supra proposed that Dewas invite Helmy to give an explanation directly.

"Dewas\'s argument for refusing or accepting the defense is unclear and must be followed up by a meeting with the president director for clarification," Supra said. However, Supra\'s proposal was not accepted by other Dewas members.

According to Arief, Helmy did not implement orderly budget administration regarding the purchase of high-cost broadcast programs, including the English Premier League, the Discovery Channel and Coppa Italia.

The head of Dewas, Arief Hidayat Thamrin, said the supervisory board decided to reject Helmy\'s defense. According to Arief, Helmy did not implement orderly budget administration regarding the purchase of high-cost broadcast programs, including the English Premier League, the Discovery Channel and Coppa Italia.

Arief said Helmy also did not implement the branding of TVRI as planned, removed structural officials without following the rules and violated the general principles of good governance regarding government administration, namely the principle of impartiality, accuracy and openness, especially regarding the appointment and procurement of the Siapa Berani (Who Dares?) quiz show.

The program is produced by Krakatoa Productions under the auspices of PT Media Mahakarya Indonesia. This program was invented by Helmy and has previously been aired on a number of private television stations. In 2018, the show received six partnership contracts worth Rp 2.147 billion and in 2019 received two similar contracts valued at Rp 3.2 billion.

Helmy said he had donated the show’s copyrights to TVRI.

"PT Krakatoa has no legal or ownership relationship with Helmy. PT Krakatoa was appointed because it specializes in producing quiz programs," said TVRI program and news director Apni Jaya Putra.

After being dismissed as the TVRI’s president director, Helmy prepared legal steps. He named former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK ) deputy chairman Chandra Hamzah as legal counsel State Secretariat Pratikno said he was concerned about the chaos within TVRI.

"I, the communications and information minister and the BPK are trying to resolve this issue," he said. (ABK/HRS/HAR/DAN)