September 28, 2025 | 02:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The press credentials of a CNN Indonesia reporter were revoked after the journalist questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program. The question was posed shortly after the President returned from an overseas trip on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta.
Several sources familiar with the incident revealed that the Presidential Secretariat for Press, Media, and Information had prohibited palace journalists from asking questions unrelated to Prabowo's visit. Prabowo had just finished explaining his meetings with several heads of state during the United Nations General Assembly.
"I believe the messages I conveyed in my speech at the UN were positively received by many leaders," Prabowo said.
After the statement, Prabowo turned and started to leave. A CNN Indonesia reporter then asked if Prabowo had given specific instructions to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) regarding the MBG, following recent reports of MBG poisoning cases across various regions.
Prabowo then turned back and replied that he would summon the Head of the BGN, Dadan Hindayana. "I am monitoring the developments. After this, I will directly summon the Head of BGN and several officials," he stated.
Sources indicated that the Presidential Secretariat for Press, Media, and Information subsequently called the CNN Indonesia reporter who had asked the MBG question. The Secretariat expressed its objection to the question, deeming it out of context for the press briefing.
Following this objection, the Press Secretariat revoked the reporter's palace press credentials. These credentials are only granted to vetted journalists who meet specific requirements, and without the card, journalists are prohibited from entering the palace grounds.
CNN Indonesia's Editor-in-Chief, Titin Rosmasari, has not responded to inquiries. Likewise, Yusuf Permana, Deputy of Protocol, Press, and Media Affairs of the Presidential Secretariat, and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi have not replied to Tempo's messages.
Meanwhile, Herik Kurniawan, Chairman of the Central Indonesian Television Journalist Association (IJTI), confirmed receiving reports about the issue. IJTI is currently communicating with all parties. "Yes [received the report], we are in communication with all parties," he said in a brief message on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
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