PARNI HADI: MAIN TASK OF MASS MEDIA IS TO TELL THE TRUTH

Yogyakarta, June 12 (ANTARA) - President Director of the Indonesian Radio Station (RRI) Parni Hadi said the mass media during the upcoming general elections need to tell the truth, uphold justice and humanity, because the mass media had developed into a capitalistic industry.

In a talk show on the role of the mass media for the second national awakening on the occasion of the 2009 general elections in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, Parni said he did not object to the mass media doing business, as long as idealism is not abandoned.

He made the remark in view of a tendency of the mass media to develop into a capitalistic industry.

"As far as I am concerned, business is inseparable from idealism, especially that the public is also yearning for idealism in the mass media," he said.

According to him, the 2009 general elections would be the best moment for the emergence of clean, capable and brave leader. Therefore, the mass madia need to campaign for the election of a leader meeting these creteria.

"So, the momentum of the second national awakening is started from the 2009 general elections with the emergence of such a leader," he said.

Parni said the campaigns for a general election in Indonesia are very costly and therefore excessive campaigns need to be avoided.