Workers scrubbing out graffiti on the House of Representatives dome in Jakarta on Friday. Actor Pong Harjatmo was arrested after spray-painting “Jujur, Adil, Tegas” (“Honest, Fair, Firm”) to protest the slow pace of democratic progress.
Veteran actor Pong Harjatmo was briefly arrested by security officers on Friday after he spray-painted the roof of the House of Representatives in Jakarta to protest government inaction on various issues.
Pong, 68, managed to spray the words “honest,” “fair” and “firm” on the roof of the House complex in Jakarta before he was detained by three security officers at around noon.
“Neither the DPR [House] nor the government has ever solved a problem, like the Bank Century scandal and the gas cylinder explosions. Now, so many legislators are truants,” said Pong, who has starred in more than 50 movies since the 1970s.
He also lashed out at lawmakers for appearing to be “immune to media and public criticism.”
“Neither printed words nor broadcast news affects these legislators. Something needs to be done,” Pong told reporters on Friday after he was arrested.
He said he had not intended to permanently damage state property when he spray-painted the House’s roof. “Just repaint it and it’ll be okay,” he said.
Pong also refuted claims that the protest was an attempt to shore up his waning public profile. “I’m sick and tired of popularity. I had enough of it a long time ago,” he said.
House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, a member of the Golkar Party, said the House welcomed any public expression of opinions and suggestions, but that the public should not resort to vandalism.
“The House’s doors are wide open. But why should [Pong] be resorting to graffiti? He should not act this way. These are state symbols,” Priyo said, adding that there is no need for people to climb roofs in order to be heard.
“I think the motive is only to draw our attention. But it was done in a wrong way,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Awakening Party (PKB) member Abdul Malik Haramain — one of many lawmakers criticized by the public for being chronically absent in plenary sessions — said he did not object to attempts by the public to voice their opinions or criticisms.
“I just hope that they can express it in a polite way,” Abdul said.
First Insp. Suharyanto, an officer at the House’s security division, said no charges would be filed against Pong, as long as the actor refrained from defacing House property in the future.
However, Suharyanto said that Pong would have to pay for the cost of repainting the roof.
Political expert Burhanuddin Muhtadi, who spoke on Friday, viewed Pong’s action as a reflection of the anger shared by many over the legislative body’s performance.
“What he wrote is a form of a frustration that I believe is also shared by a lot of people in this country,” he said. “Lawmakers who said that Pong was only trying to grab attention have failed to catch the substance Pong’s message.”
Burnhanuddin said that the public was disappointed by legislators who have registered poor attendance in House sessions and have shirked their duties to the people.
“It has prompted people such as Pong to go to such lengths to be heard. It might be legally incorrect, but it represents what most of the public feel about the House’s performance,” he said.
