Ex-NU chairman: Porn bill potential to produce "private" police

Jakarta, NU Online
Ex-chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Solahuddin Wahid (Gus Solah) said the porn bill was potential to produce "private" police or illegal security officials.

Gus Solah made sure that the respectful position of police could easily be taken over by the private if they do not improve their internal immediately.<>

The younger brother of former president KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) made the remarks after attending a public discussion on national integrity function at the PBNU headquarters in Jakarta Monday (22/9).

Gus Solah told reporters that one of those responsible for the porn bill was police while at the same time the state institution has not yet been well organized especially in dealing with the number of its personnel and operational funds.

The leader of Tebuireng Islamic boarding school (pesantren) said this condition could be such a new job field for the "private" officers for each individual or certain group would (mis)interpret the bill based on their own interest.

He expressed his great attention to the importance of adding police personnel and adequate operational funds. "If the personnel of police is added while at the same time their  operational fund allocation is not adequate, they will not be able to do (their duties)," he said.

The bill continues to spark controversies, with some critics saying it threatens the right to privacy as well as pluralism in the country. Many of its articles are "contentious and vague", they added.

Opponents also say the bill may spark national disintegration, and that it is not urgent as it overlaps with the Criminal Code and existing laws, including on child protection, broadcasting and the press.

Two of the 10 factions at the House -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) -- oppose the bill, and both walked out of deliberations during the plenary session. (rif)