Polemic Indonesian Soap Operas

Sinetron is an amalgamation and shortening of the words cinema and electronics. Electronics here does not only refer to cassette tapes whose recording process is based on electronic principles. Electronics in soap operas refers more to the medium, namely television or visuals, which are electronic media other than radio broadcasts. (Wardana, 1997: 1)

Sinetron is one of the entertainment media that is broadcast on television through a selection process by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI). Along with the development of the era of soap operas, of course, following the condition of the audience or viewers. But recently, there has been a lot of discussion in cyberspace about a controversial soap opera. The soap opera Suara Hati Istri-Zahra which aired on the Indosiar TV station was suspected of campaigning for pedophilia. The role of Zahra, who plays Tirta's third wife who is still 15 years old, is quite far from the 39-year-old husband.

For this reason, many netizens have flooded the protests in cyberspace. This soap opera is considered unfit to be watched especially by children in Indonesia and violates broadcasting ethics. Television programs that should also educate the public are too far away and only care about ratings. In Law no. 32 of 2002 Chapter IV Concerning the Implementation of Broadcasting. Article 36 paragraph 1 reads "The content of broadcasts must contain information, education, entertainment, and benefits for the formation of intellect, character, morals, progress, national strength, maintaining unity and integrity, and practicing Indonesian religious and cultural values".

 In addition, on the basis of age, marriage in this soap opera also violates existing laws. In the existing law, marriage is permitted, namely if a man and a woman have reached the age of 19 years as stated in Article 1 Paragraph 1 of Law no. 16 of 2019 concerning Amendments to Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

The soap opera polemic as discussed above is not the first time we have encountered it. We hope that the quality of soap operas and other forms can improve the quality of broadcasting and fix broadcasts that are troubling Indonesian morals and education.

Rizky Adi Kurniawan, Student of Islamic Broadcasting Communication-Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta.