This video shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo reversing his policy on allowing new alcoholic drinks investments

This article is more than one year old.
Published on March 15, 2021 at 05:30
2 min read
By AFP Malaysia

A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook alongside a claim it shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo announcing plans to shut down liquor factories. The claim is misleading; the video shows the Indonesian president talking about revoking a presidential decree that allowed new investments in the alcoholic beverage industry; Indonesia still allows the production and sale of alcoholic drinks.

The one-minute video was posted on March 8, 2021, here on Facebook, where it has been viewed more than 2,000 times.

Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on March 9, 2021

Translated from Malaysian, the text reads: “TODAY JOKOWI SHUTS DOWN ALL LIQUOR FACTORIES IN INDONESIA.

“Therefore, Malaysian people should choose a leader with spirit as THE SERVANT OF ALLAH NOT THE EARTHLY SERVANT.”

“Jokowi” is the popular nickname of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The video was viewed more than 12,700 times since it was shared alongside a similar claim here, here, here and here. Other similar claims were also posted here and here on Facebook, and here on Twitter.

The claim, however, is misleading.

A reverse image search, followed by a keyword search, found this video posted on the Indonesian Cabinet Secretary’s official YouTube channel on March 2, 2021.

The video is titled: “Indonesian President’s Press Statement on Revoking Presidential Decree Related to Alcoholic Drinks, March 2, 2021.”

The part of the footage seen in the misleading posts starts from the official video's 30-second mark.

“After receiving input from Muslim clerics, from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muhammadiyah and other mass organisations, and other religious figures, I hereby declare that the presidential regulation pertaining to opening new investments in the industry of alcoholic beverages revoked,” Jokowi said.

Nowhere in the two-minute video does he mention shutting down liquor factories.

Indonesian media, such as Kompas.com and CNN Indonesia, have also reported Jokowi’s decision on the presidential decree that was issued in early February 2021.

“The claim that Mr President Joko Widodo has closed all alcoholic drink industry in Indonesia is not true,” Edy Sutopo, director of beverage, tobacco and freshener industries at Indonesia’s Industry Ministry, told AFP via WhatsApp on March 12, 2021.

Indonesia has not banned alcoholic drinks, except in Aceh, the only province that adopts Sharia.

The country’s alcohol prohibition bill, which has been discussed in parliament for years, is largely supported by Islamic-based parties, but it is opposed by Jokowi’s party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, and Golkar Party.

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