---

Dunia pers di Indonesia kembali dikejutkan dengan gugatan perdata dari Menteri Pertanian, Amran Sulaiman, terhadap PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk atau Tempo ke Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta senilai Rp200 miliar. Amran mempermasalahkan judul salah satu berita di harian Tempo edisi 16 Mei 2025 berjudul Poles-Poles Beras Busuk.

Dalam siaran pers yang disampaikan tim Amran Sulaiman, disebutkan gugatan itu disampaikan karena Kementerian Pertanian merasa dirugikan dengan pemberitaan tersebut. Padahal, Tempo sudah berkali-kali mengajukan permohonan untuk wawancara agar ada penjelasan terang benderang dari pihak Menteri Pertanian.

Di grup ahli pers, diskusi ini sedang menghangat. Ada analisis, mengapa Kementan menggugat secara perdata dan bukannya pidana. Mentan ingin menuntut pertanggungjawaban atas pelanggaran etika yang telah dinyatakan dalam penilaian Dewan Pers. Sebelumnya, kasus tersebut memang sudah dilaporkan ke Dewan Pers dan dinyatakan Tempo melakukan pelanggaran etika pers.

Hasil laporan ke Dewan Pers, pihak Dewan Pers mengeluarkan Pernyataan Penilaian dan Rekomendasi (PPR) kepada media bersangkutan. PPR Dewan Pers tersebut diberitakan sudah dilaksanakan Tempo, tetapi oleh oleh pihak Mentan dinyatakan belum.
Alasannya Tempo tidak melaksanakan rekomendasi dalam 2 x 24 jam. Tempo dianggap melanggar rekomendasi.

Mengapa Rp200 miliar secara perdata?

Beberapa ahli pers Dewan Pers menilai ada niat membangkrutkan media bersangkutan. Ini sama saja dengan membungkam pers. Fakta bahwa dalam niat Tempo terbaca dalam kata tone negatif selama ini juga menunjukkan ketidaknyamanan Mentan menerima kritik. Tinggal dibuktikan dalam isi berita. Bukankah mekanisme hukum pers sudah dilakukan karena Tempo berkali-kali meminta hak jawab tetapi tidak digubris. Mengapa?

Bagaimana Tempo bisa menangkal 'tone negatif yang dituding itu tanpa membuka ruang hak jawab atau klarifikasi atas kontrol yang dilakukan Tempo?

Adanya gugatan tersebut, boleh dibilang mengejutkan karena publik selama ini menganggap Amran Sulaiman pejabat yang tidak alergi terhadap kritik. Apalagi, di lingkaran Amran ada Imam Wahyudi, mantan wartawan RCTI dan pernah menjabat dua periode sebagai anggota Dewan Pers. Harusnya ada masukan yang lebih ramah terhadap kebebasan pers di Indonesia.

Menarik menunggu akhir dari gugatan ini. Saya pribadi berharap kasus ini bisa berakhir dengan damai di luar pengadilan. Kalau memang tidak ada beras busuk seperti yang diberitakan Tempo, Kementerian Pertanian tidak perlu risau. Tinggal menggunakan jalur hak jawab dan menunjukkan buktinya. []

---

---

---

Rotten Rice News and Rp200 Billion Civil Lawsuit

The Indonesian press world has been shocked again by the Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, filing a civil lawsuit against PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk at the Jakarta District Court for Rp200 billion. Amran is taking issue with the headline of a news article in the May 16, 2025, edition of Tempo daily newspaper, "Poles-Poles Beras Busuk."

In a press release issued by Amran Sulaiman's team, it was stated that the lawsuit was filed because the Ministry of Agriculture felt aggrieved by the news coverage. Tempo had repeatedly requested interviews to obtain a clear explanation from the Minister of Agriculture.

In the press expert group, this discussion is heating up. There are analyses explaining why the Ministry of Agriculture is pursuing a civil lawsuit rather than a criminal one. The Minister of Agriculture wants to hold the Ministry accountable for the ethical violations identified in the Press Council's assessment. Previously, the case had been reported to the Press Council, and Tempo was found to have violated press ethics.

Following the report to the Press Council, the Press Council issued a Statement of Assessment and Recommendation (PPR) to the media outlet in question. Tempo reportedly implemented the PPR, but the Minister of Agriculture stated that it had not.
The reason was that Tempo failed to implement the recommendation within 24 hours. Tempo was deemed to have violated the recommendation.

Why the Rp200 billion civil lawsuit?

Several Press Council press experts believe there was an intention to bankrupt the media outlet in question. This is tantamount to silencing the press. The fact that Tempo's intentions were clearly reflected in the negative tone throughout also demonstrates the Minister's discomfort with criticism. It remains to be proven in the content of the news. Haven't press legal mechanisms been implemented, as Tempo has repeatedly requested a right of reply but received no response? Where is the Minister of Agriculture?

How can Tempo counter the alleged negative tone without providing a right of reply or clarification regarding Tempo's control?

The lawsuit is somewhat surprising, as the public has long considered Amran Sulaiman an official who is not allergic to criticism. Moreover, Amran's circle includes Imam Wahyudi, a former RCTI journalist and two-term member of the Press Council. There should be more supportive input on press freedom in Indonesia.

It will be interesting to see how this lawsuit pans out. I personally hope the case can be settled peacefully out of court. If there really isn't any rotten rice as reported by Tempo, the Ministry of Agriculture needn't worry. They just need to use the right of reply and present the evidence. []

---

_{Posted using SteemX}