Partyforumseasia: Probably Lenin’s famous formula “trust is good, control is better” comes closer to the Southeast Asian reality than Confucius’ “rectification of names” concept. But maybe modern media ownership and its possibilities of political control are a clever combination of both. The Confucian concept may be a bit too idealistic about good intentions of ancient rulers. Today’s political parties and their leaders certainly have enough good intentions, but owning and controlling the all important media seems to be considered the safer bet for electoral success.
Nota bene: Media control quasi monopolies are everywhere: Murdoch and Berlusconi, and…

Partyforumseasia suggests to collect ownership affiliations between media and  political parties in the region, starting here with a number of Indonesian media.

Most prominent is tycoon, Golkar chairman and possible presidential candidate in 2014, Aburizal Bakrie, who controls news channels TVOne and ANTV as well as online news portal Vivanews.

National Democrat (NasDem) chairman Surya Paloh owns Metro TV and daily newspaper Media Indoenesia.

Media tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo, controls the large media network PT Media Nusantara Citra (MNC) and seems to focus his political ambition on the Hanura party.

About 3,000 private radio stations over the country may be open to political bidders during election campaigns.

But there is also good news: Kompas, the most influential and widely circulated newspaper in Indonesia is politically independent. Its owner, Kompas-Gramedia Group, controls a large networks of local papers and the Jakarta Post.