JAKARTA – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, spoke out addressing the widespread circulation of social media content spreading false and misleading information.

Minister Yandri asserted that social media posts featuring a likeness generated to resemble him are completely false and deceptive.

Minister Yandri detailed that the provocative and misleading narrative uploaded by certain social media accounts falsely claimed that establishing kiosks or grocery stores within a two-kilometer radius of a Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) is prohibited, and that existing stores must relocate or face fines.

Similarly false was the narrative claiming that the government plans to close citizen-owned kiosks or stores to monopolize the market through the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives.

"This misleading statement was uploaded on TikTok by an account named PETUNG and other accounts. I have never made such statements; therefore, the public should not believe this baseless and misleading information," Minister Yandri stated on Friday (July 31, 2026).

Furthermore, Minister Yandri explained that the fake news content utilized advanced technology to create the false impression that he actually uttered those statements, whereas he never did.

Minister Yandri reiterated that the content is untrue, deceptive, and unaccountable. "I emphasize that the content falls entirely outside the responsibility of the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions," he affirmed.

In response to the circulation of this false and provocative news, Minister Yandri has taken legal action to be processed by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) against the dissemination of negative social media content containing manipulated facts.

This legal step aims to create a deterrent effect against social media accounts that cause public unrest, sow division between the people and the government, and potentially threaten national stability.

Minister Yandri urged the public to be more selective and discerning, refraining from believing social media content based on false information or unverified accuracy.
 

"Always practice the principle of 'Filter before Sharing' and verify any information or news through official government channels," Minister Yandri concluded.

Over a phone interview, the Minister’s Legal Advisor, Prof. Dr. Juanda, S.H., M.H., provided detailed clarification that under Article 45A Paragraph (1) and Article 45A Paragraph (2) of Law No. 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE Law), the penal sanctions for such actions are as follows:

- Article 45A Paragraph (1): Any person who intentionally distributes and/or transmits Electronic Information and/or Electronic Documents containing false notices or misleading information resulting in material loss for consumers in Electronic Transactions as referred to in Article 28 Paragraph (1) shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of 6 (six) years and/or a maximum fine of Rp1,000,000,000.00 (one billion rupiah).

- Article 45A Paragraph (2): Any person who intentionally and without right distributes and/or transmits Electronic Information and/or Electronic Documents that are incitement, encouraging, or influencing others in a way that instigates hatred or hostility against individuals and/or specific community groups based on race, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, religion, belief, gender, mental disability, or physical disability as referred to in Article 28 Paragraph (2) shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of 6 (six) years and/or a maximum fine of Rp1,000,000,000.00 (one billion rupiah).