September 16, 2025 | 10:29 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman has filed a civil lawsuit against PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk, or Tempo, at the South Jakarta District Court on charges of illegal actions. Amran questioned the headline of Tempo's daily news edition on May 16, 2025, which reads "Poles-Poles Beras Busuk" (Polishing Rotten Rice).
In the lawsuit registered under case number 684/Pdt.G/ 2025/PN JKT SEL, dated July 1, 2025, Amran believes that Tempo failed to comply with the recommendation given by the Press Council on June 18. He also claimed to have suffered losses, both materially and immaterially from the news headline, and demanded compensation of more than Rp200 billion.
Mustafa Layong, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers), as Tempo's legal representative in this case, stated that Amran's lawsuit legitimizes the suppression of press freedom, one of its functions being government control.
"As legal representatives, we convey that action or lawsuits against the media, especially those carried out by the government, are inappropriate," said Mustafa after the initial trial at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday, September 15, 2025. "We see this as an unjustifiable lawsuit against the press," he added.
Mustafa believes that the news reported by Tempo in the disputed article is a form of criticism and social control over government policies. There are no elements of illegal actions in it.
Tempo's Deputy Editor Bagja Hidayat, present at today's trial, explained that the news, which has now been retitled to "Main Serap Beras Rusak" (Absorbing Spoiled Rice), discusses the government's policy that requires the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) to absorb all farmers' rice without considering the quality or any quality and set a standard price. The regulations stipulated in the National Food Agency Chief's Decision Number 14 of 2025 have caused farmers to mix rice with different qualities to increase earnings.
Bagja stated that Tempo chose the word "busuk" (spoiled) in the title because it is considered to be in line with the intended meaning, which is damaged rice. In the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language (KBBI), Bagja said, the word "busuk" means damaged and has an unpleasant smell.
However, Bagja said that Amran believes that Tempo's editorial decision in the news headline has affected the performance of the Ministry of Agriculture, disrupted planned programs and activities, and had an impact on public trust in the Ministry of Agriculture.
"The Press Council upheld the objections raised by Minister Amran, consequently, there is a recommendation containing requirements that Tempo fulfilled one day after receiving it," he said.
Furthermore, Mustafa admitted that his client has not been given the opportunity for the right of reply or correction by Amran's party. Thus, according to Mustafa, the lawsuit filed by Amran is inappropriate and unwarranted. "This lawsuit is only intended to hinder journalistic work and create a climate of fear for their work in the field," he said.
Mustafa hopes that the panel of judges can see this case as an inappropriate and unjustifiable lawsuit. "Because this case was already resolved after Tempo fulfilled all the recommendations. So, what other motive is behind this lawsuit?" he said.
Furthermore, lawsuits regarding news coverage are not the first time that the government has filed against Tempo. Amran Sulaiman, who serves as the Minister of Agriculture in the Working Indonesia Cabinet, previously sued Tempo Magazine over an investigative report in the September 9 to 15, 2019 edition titled "Gula-Gula Dua Saudara" (The Two Brothers' Sweets). This civil lawsuit was filed at the South Jakarta district court on October 18, 2019, in the name of Sabarman Saragih.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture had also filed a complaint against Tempo Magazine regarding the investigative report on "Swasembada Gula Cara Amran dan Isam" (Self-Sufficiency in Sugar, Amran and Isam's Way) to the Press Council on September 9, 2019.
As quoted from its official website, the Press Council decided that the news had met the principle of balance and had no ill intentions. The recommendation given by the Press Council to Tempo at the time was to publish the right of reply from the complainant (Minister of Agriculture) in a proportional manner.
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