September 14, 2025 | 03:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The screening of a video featuring President Prabowo Subianto’s government programs in local cinemas has drawn sharp criticism from netizens, who argue the practice is inappropriate in the current situation.
On Instagram, the account @mont**** called on moviegoers to arrive 15 minutes later than scheduled to avoid watching the video, which is shown just before the main film begins.
Asep Suryana, a sociology lecturer at the State University of Jakarta, said the public’s reluctance and protests are understandable.
“Cinemas are meant to be spaces of public entertainment, but they’re being interrupted by government propaganda,” Asep told Tempo on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
He noted that such interventions are not new in Indonesia. In 2018, then-President Joko Widodo also aired ads showcasing his administration’s achievements before films in cinemas.
“This time it’s different, because Prabowo does not project as strong an image as Jokowi once did. That’s why the backlash is stronger,” he said.
Asep argued that government achievements already have official channels for communication and should not be forced into entertainment spaces.
“Prabowo should reconsider this strategy, as it could damage his public image. If necessary, the screenings should be stopped to ease public criticism,” he added.
The video has been widely debated on social media, including X. In it, Prabowo pledges to eradicate poverty and highlights the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, which he claims has reached 20 million beneficiaries since its launch earlier this year.
The video also showcases the establishment of 80,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives, the operation of 5,800 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), and agricultural achievements such as 21.7 million tons of rice production as of August 2025, the cultivation of 225,000 hectares of paddy fields, and the export of 1,200 tons of corn earlier this year.
State Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi defended the screenings, saying they are a legitimate way to deliver messages.
“As long as it does not violate the rules and does not disturb comfort or aesthetics, this is something normal,” Prasetyo said in a written statement on Sunday.
However, human rights advocates disagree. Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director Usman Hamid urged the government to reconsider.
“Instead of forcing this video into cinemas, the government should honestly evaluate its programs and listen to the people to correct what has gone wrong,” Usman said.
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