Minister Accuses Two Media Outlets Of Spinning President's Statements

Jakarta, Nov 15 (Antara) - Minister and State Secretary Sudi Silalahi has accused two media outlets of always spinning President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s statements to influence public opinion against him. "I will not name these institutions personally but I believe you know them well because as soon as the President makes a statement, it is immediately spun by their team to sound unfavorable, sometimes even pitting the President against other parties," Silalahi said in a statement uploaded on his office`s website on Friday. He made the statement in response to newsmen`s questions as to why President Yudhoyono had cut down attending press conferences or issuing press releases recently. Silalahi noted that in general the press always reported to the public exactly what the President had said but "two media outlets always spin whatever the President says and broadcasts these remarks unceasingly for days." "That is what has probably made the President reluctant to give a press statement lately," he explained. The minister declined to mention the names of the media outlets concerned, but said he believed all newsmen knew them well.