“Mingkemnya” Press Criticized by Purbaya

MINISTER Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa criticized the press for “mingkem” (silent), alleging they are not daring to criticize the government. Purbaya conveyed this criticism at an event held by the Editor-in-Chief Forum in Jakarta, sunday, November 16, 2025.

Purbaya’s criticism is interesting and contains an element of truth.PK Ojong shares a similar view.The press was not created to curry favor with power. Press criticism is necessary because power tends to corrupt. at this time, press criticism is especially needed when the nation is experiencing a crisis of depiction.

The DPR (House of Representatives) is experiencing what Carl Schmitt called a loss of its moral and spiritual foundation. Schmitt wrote this in his book The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy (1923). Apart from the “mingkem” press, the DPR, DPD (Regional Representative Council), and mass organizations are also largely silent in the face of political practices perceived as unjust. In the words of diversity thinker Sukidi, the nation is being built in a situation of a “republic of fear.”

Daniel Dhakidae identified the symptoms of a “mingkem” press in his 1991 dissertation at Cornell. In his dissertation, The State, the Rise of Capital, and the Fall of Political Journalism: Political Economy of Indonesian News Industry, Daniel predicted that the New Order press system, with control of paper in the hands of the government, would create a situation leading to the end of political journalism.

Purbaya’s criticism is considered partially accurate because some press outlets, such as Tempo, do dare to criticize the government directly and firmly regarding governance. However, Tempo is currently facing a lawsuit for IDR 200 billion in damages from the Minister of Agriculture.It is indeed possible that purbaya’s view is a personal one, differing from that of other ministers.

Currently, within the press community, there is an atmosphere of mysticism that the government prefers positive news, especially praise. In several cases, there is an invisible hand attempting to control the free press, which is currently in survival mode. “In fact, praise is a silent killer,” said Sukidi, in a statement at the Citizens’ Forum.