http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/clerics-pan-indonesias-ramadan-tv-fare/327895
September 03, 2009
Ismira Lutfia
Clerics Pan Indonesia's Ramadan TV Fare
What better symbols to present to Muslim-dominated television audiences in this
holy month of Ramadan than Arabic cultural icons such as camels and deserts?
At least, that seems to be what most Indonesian broadcasters think, and it's
what the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has been disappointed with.
"The spirit of Ramadan is depicted on some TV shows merely with symbols. They
are not even Islamic but Arabic cultural ones," the council's head of mass
communication, Said Budairy, complained on Thursday.
He told a news conference aimed at presenting the council's evaluation of
television shows during the first week of Ramadan that it was "too bad that
various shows designed to enliven and spread the spirit of Ramadan are still
featuring behaviors that fall short of Islamic guidance."
Budairy said the same went for some shows with Ramadan-related titles whose
content failed to fit with the occasion's spirit.
The council did express its appreciation for Metro TV, Televisi Republik
Indonesia (TVRI) and TV One for what it described as the educational and
positive content of their Ramadan programs.
Budairy said a Metro TV pre-dawn-meal program, "Tafsir Al Misbah ("The Light of
the Koran"), which features Islamic scholar and former minister of religious
affairs Quraish Shihab, was an example of an inspiring Ramadan show.
"The MUI also appreciates TPI for showing significant improvements in its
Ramadan programs compared to last year's, which were dominated by a mystical
drama series," he said.
Fetty Fajriati, vice chairman of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI),
said Ramadan TV shows generally failed to provide the religious atmosphere
expected from networks.
"We hope that there will be an improvement in the remaining days of Ramadan,"
Fetty said.
MUI secretary Ichwan Sam said it was important for the council to monitor the
content of television programs during Ramadan because this was a holy month for
Muslims that should be devoted to doing good deeds.
"Especially on television, which is a public domain," Ichwan said, adding that
the council and the KPI provided guidelines for broadcasters to produce the
right mix of Ramadan shows.
Muhammad Izzul Muslimin of the broadcasting commission said a television
ratings agency advised that audiences preferred entertainment programs during
the predawn meal because they were more suitable for people fighting off
sleepiness while having the predawn meal, or sahur , at 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
"That's why the ratings for such programs are high," Izzul said, adding it was
understandable that broadcasters would prefer to air entertainment rather than
religious shows during the early hours.
"They are much cheaper to produce and they attract more viewers," Izzul said.
