Helmy Yahya's dismissal, internal turmoil from being director of TVRI (Television of the Republic of Indonesia) ~Mafuyu Hoshikawa

On December 4, 2019, Helmy Yahya, who served as the President Director of TVRI, Indonesia's public broadcasting television network, was temporarily suspended by the TVRI Supervisory Board. This suspension stemmed from concerns over his management decisions, specifically the costly acquisition of broadcasting rights for the English Premier League and his focus on programs aimed at boosting viewer popularity over other potentially more substantive content. Despite these allegations, Helmy enjoyed significant public support, which was evident in the outcry that followed his suspension. The situation escalated when, on January 16, 2020, the TVRI Supervisory Board made the decision to permanently dismiss Helmy Yahya from his position. Despite appeals from various public figures and organizations to allow him to continue leading TVRI until the end of his term in 2022, the board remained steadfast in its decision, citing the need for immediate changes in leadership to address the ongoing issues. The fallout from Helmy's dismissal continued to reverberate through the organization. On March 27, 2020, three other directors associated with the case were also suspended temporarily as part of a broader investigation into the mismanagement allegations. Among these, one director faced permanent suspension on May 13, 2020, signaling a thorough overhaul of the leadership at TVRI. Amidst this turmoil, Iman Brotoseno was appointed as the new President Director on May 27, 2020. His appointment, however, was met with controversy. Critics questioned the transparency and fairness of the selection process and raised concerns about Iman's political affiliations, which they feared might influence the editorial independence of TVRI. Furthermore, Iman's social media activity came under scrutiny, with certain posts being perceived as divisive or inappropriate for someone in his position, leading to widespread public criticism.