We have Fought against Fake News and Hoaxes for a Long Time: President Jokowi

President Jokowi responds to reporters’ questions after participating in Bogor Open Archery Championship 2017 in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (22/1)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo calmly responded to the latest tweet of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) regarding the rampant spread of hoaxes and also the disseminators of slander.

Previously, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wrote on his twitter account: “Allah, the one and only God. How has the country become like this? Disseminators of slander and hoaxes are in power and are prevailing. When will people and the weaks win?” *SBY*.

“I think we have fought against fake news and hoaxes for a long time. We should build a new culture, (build) values of politeness and good manners while talking and posting on social media,” President Jokowi said responding to reporters’ questions after participating in Bogor Open Archery Championship 2017 at the Army’s Wira Yudha Education Center in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (22/1).

The President asserted that he always warns people not to incite hatred,  slander others, spread hoaxes nor hate messages in every occasion he attended.

“I think we are now facing the consequences of information openness. We must face it because every countries also deal with the same thing,” the President added.

Questioned about an assumption that the Government is the one who spreads hoaxes, President Jokowi affirmed that he always spreads optimism in work.

“We work to encourage people to be more optimistic,” the President fimly said. (GUN/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)