‘Porn-song’ criticism of her music not what Jupe likes best

Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | Wed, 04/04/2012 10:19 AM

In the wake of criticism that suggests her songs carry an element of pornography, actress and singer Julia “Jupe” Perez has come out to defend them as purely artistic.

She said she has never intended to spoil the morality of the nation in her work as has been suggested, saying that all of the songs that she performs were part of freedom of expression and protected by the law.

“I’ve heard that I was applauded as an envoy for the durian fruit just because of the ‘Belah Duren’ song. This indicates that my songs are not frowned upon by some people,” Julia told The Jakarta Post by phone.

“Belah Duren”, which literally means “Prying the Durian”, is one of two Jupe songs considered as containing obscenity by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), which said they were not worth playing for public consumption, particularly to under-aged listeners. 

The other is “Jupe Paling Suka” (What Jupe Likes Best).

Also on the blacklist are “Cinta Satu Malam” (One Night Love) by Melinda, “Pengen Dibolongi” (Want to Be Penetrated) by Aan Annisha and “Mobil Bergoyang” (Rocking Car) by Lia MJ.

The KPI has issued a warning to private television stations from airing “Jupe Paling Suka”, in particular, saying doing so would violate the broadcasting law.

East Java KPI member Donny Maulana Arif said airing the song breached Law No. 32/2002 on broadcasting, especially Article 36 that stipulated that program contents must not highlight vulgarity or ignore religious values and the dignity of Indonesians.

“The KPI has no authority to ban TV programs. So we only give sanctions in the form of warnings so a TV station stops airing programs associated with pornography, especially during periods when many children are watching TV,” he told the Post on Tuesday.

Donny said the warning was in line with Article 5 of the 2009 KPI Law on Behavioral Guidelines and Broadcasting Program Standards. 

Article 10 stipulates that broadcasting institutions must pay attention and protect the interests of children, teenagers and women.

The “Jupe Paling Suka” song is also against the broadcasting behavior guidelines, which stipulates that broadcasting institutions must respect civil norms and morality prevailing in society, he said.

The song, featured in the soundtrack for Jupe’s Pocong Minta Kawin (Ghost Asks for Marriage) film, would have a negative impact if watched by children “due to the erotic voice and intonation that suggested sexual intercourse”, he said.

The head of the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) East Java chapter, KH Abdussomad Bukhori, said the KPI should be firm in implementing the broadcasting act. 

The MUI has urged the KPI to monitor pornography on TV and impose firm sanctions against station owners who continue to air such programs.

“Don’t ask clerics about pornography because we are certainly against that. There are rules prohibiting it, but none of the authorities are brave enough to implement the rules firmly,” Abdussomad told the Post.

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