Indonesia’s top communications ministry leader quits after cyberattack cripples services

Cyberattacks are prevalent in Indonesia and authorities are often accused of downplaying such incidents instead of being transparent

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Passengers walk through Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. The hack has paralysed Indonesia’s immigration system, resulting in long queues at airport immigration desks as officers manually check passengers’ passports. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:35pm, 5 Jul 2024

A senior leader at Indonesia’s communication ministry has resigned after a cyberattack crippled essential government services across the nation, amid intensifying demands for other top officials to be held accountable as the nation grapples with cyber threats.

Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan resigned as director general of applications and information at Indonesia’s communication ministry on Thursday, saying he was “morally responsible” for the June 20 breach that paralysed public services, including the airports’ immigration system, for several days.

“I apologise for all the mistakes made and anything I said that caused upset. This incident is technically my responsibility and I should have resolved it,” said Semuel, who had served in the position for eight years.

His resignation comes as calls mount for Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi to also step down. An online petition demanding Budi’s resignation has garnered over 25,000 signatures, citing his lack of accountability in addressing the recurring cyberattacks.

Indonesian netizens continued to demand greater accountability from Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi after the June 20 breach paralysed public services for several days. Photo: Reuters

President Joko Widodo told reporters on Wednesday that a full audit of the incident was taking place and the focus was on ensuring the protection of all sensitive data across government agencies.