Department of Information (Indonesia)

Department of InformationDepartemen Penerangan

Ministry overview
Formed| 19 August 1945 (1945-08-19)
Dissolved| 26 October 1999
Superseding agencies|

* State Ministry of Communication and Information (2001–2005)
* Department of Communication and Informatics (2005–2009)
* Ministry of Communication and Informatics (2009–2024)
* Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (2024–present)

Jurisdiction| Government of Indonesia
Headquarters| Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat No. 9
Jakarta Pusat 10110
Jakarta, Indonesia

The Department of Information (Indonesian: Departemen Penerangan, abbreviated Deppen) was a department, and subsequently ministry, of the Indonesian government which was tasked with regulating and developing the press, mass media such as television, film, radio, graphics, printing and public information. The department was established in 1945 by President Sukarno.[1]

## History

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### Estabilishment and early history

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The Department of Information was established at the beginning of Indonesian independence with the formation of the government. The first Minister of Information was Amir Sjarifuddin.

The Department of Information had a very broad scope of duties because in the early years of independence, many ministries were not well organized. For example, when members of the army wanted to enter areas of the country controlled by the Dutch, a travel certificate had to be issued by Department of Information.[2]

### New order era

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During the New Order era, the Department of Information had a central role, namely controlling information and news, whch was almost entirely in the hands of the government. It acted as a public spokesperson for government programs. As well as political issues, the institution also had to monitor the television industry.

Control of information was almost entirely in the hands of the government, particularly the ministry of information. In 1984, Regulation No. 1/1984 of the Minister of Information was issued, requiring all press publishing companies to have a legal entity as a Limited Liability Company (PT) as a requirement to obtain a Press Publishing Business License (SIUPP).[2]

### Dissolution

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During the administration of Abdurrahman Wahid in 1999, the Department of Information was disbanded. This dissolution was carried out because according to President Wahid, it was silencing the freedom of thought of the people. He argued that the Department of Information acted in an authoritarian manner in managing the Indonesian media landscape.[3][4]

## Ministers

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The following is a list of ministers of information from 1945 to 1999:

1. Amir Sjarifuddin (1945–1946)
2. Mohammad Natsir (1946–1947, 1948)
3. Setiadi Reksoprodjo (1947)
4. Sjahbuddin Latif (1947–1948)
Syafruddin Prawiranegara (1948–1949)
5. Raden Sjamsoeddin (1949)
Arnold Mononutu (1949–1950)
Raden Sjamsoeddin (1949–1950)
6. Wiwoho Purbohadidjojo (1950)
7. Melkias Agustinus Pellaupessy (1950–1951)
8. Arnold Mononutu (1951–1953)
9. Ferdinand Lumban Tobing (1953–1955)
10. Sjamsuddin Sutan Makmur (1955–1956)
11. Soedibjo (1956–1957, 1957–1959)
Idham Chalid (1957, acting)
12. Maladi (1960–1962)
13. Mohammad Yamin (1962)
14. Ruslan Abdulgani (1962–1964)
15. Achmadi Hadisoemarto (1964–1966)
16. Wilhelm Johannis Rumambi (1966)
17. B.M. Diah (1966–1968)
18. Boediardjo (1968–1973)
19. Mashuri Saleh (1973–1977)
Sudharmono (1977–1978, acting)
20. Ali Murtopo (1978–1983)
21. Harmoko (1983–1997)
22. R. Hartono (1997–1998)
23. Alwi Dahlan (1998)
24. Yunus Yosfiah (1998–1999)

## Replacement

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Main article: Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs

After the dissolution of the department by President Abdurrahman Wahid, the National Information and Communication Agency (BIKN) was formed, a non-ministerial government agency to replace the function of the information department.[5]

The functions of this department were then transferred to a new ministry, namely the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which was formed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2001. It is now known as the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.

## Reference

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1. ^ Direktorat Jenderal Aplikasi Informatika. "Sejarah Departemen Penerangan dan Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika". Retrieved 24 January 2025.
2. ^ a b Dinas Kominfo Kabupaten Trenggalek. "Sejarah Departemen Penerangan dan Kominfo" (PDF). Retrieved 25 January 2025.
3. ^ Masduki (2007). Regulasi Penyiaran: Dari Otoriter ke Liberal (in Indonesian). Yogyakarta: LKiS Pelangi Aksara. p. 128\. ISBN 978-979-1283-17-5.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
4. ^ Mukaromah, Vina Fadhrotul (2019-12-30). Wedhaswary, Inggried Dwi (ed.). "Hari Ini dalam Sejarah: Indonesia Berduka, Gus Dur Berpulang pada 30 Desember 2009 Halaman all - Kompas.com". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2025-01-17.
5. ^ "KEPPRES No. 153 tahun 1999" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-01-17.