Palace Asks Detikcom to Repost Opinion Article

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of the Indonesian Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, suggested that the opinion article on Detikcom that criticized the appointment of Djaka Budi Utama as head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry should be uploaded again. He said that the government had no problem with various criticisms.

"If necessary, just upload the article again, just repost it," he said in his office in Central Jakarta, Monday, May 26, 2025.

He then mentioned the case of a student detained for creating a meme depicting Jokowi and Prabowo kissing. Similar to the case of the opinion writer at Detikcom, Hasan requested that such cases be better nurtured, not punished.

Hasan admitted that he had not read the opinion article on Detikcom that criticized the appointment of Djaka Budi Utama as the head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance. Because of this, Hasan declined to comment.

However, he said that the appointment was following the procedures. Djaka resigned from his position in the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on May 2, 2025. Then, the President's Decree of Dismissal was issued on May 6, 2025.

"So, the newly appointed head of customs and excise has retired status, same as a civilian," he said.

Hasan also requested the opinion writers at Detikcom to report allegations of intimidation against law enforcement. The aim is to identify the perpetrators and the motives behind the intimidation. "It's better to report it to the authorities and bring this to light," he said.

Previously, a Detikcom writer questioned Djaka's appointment as the head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry. Djaka, who had previously served as the chief of the State Intelligence Agency, was deemed to have violated the principles of meritocracy in filling civil service positions.

After publishing his opinion, the writer claimed to have been intimidated and harassed by unknown individuals. Detikcom's editorial team then retracted the article, citing the writer's safety.

Meanwhile, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that Djaka Budhi Utama had already resigned from the TNI before being inaugurated as the head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. "This is an example of such loyalty and law abidance," he said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, Friday, May 23, 2025.

Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to this article

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