Jakarta. The Twitter account of Indonesia’s presidential adviser for disaster management was hacked early Thursday morning and used to send a hoax warning that Jakarta would be struck by a tsunami on Friday.
The social networking account belonging to Andi Arief, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s adviser for disaster management and social affairs, was still displaying the warning at 11 p.m. along with other more politically motivated messages.
“What can you do, adviser? You’re the mother of all disasters,” one read.
“Long live cayus eh gayus,” read another in reference to disgraced tax official Gayus Tambunan, whose ongoing case continues to make a mockery of the Indonesian justice system.
An angry Akuat Supriyanto, a member of Andi’s staff, confirmed the hack — on Twitter.
“Today, at dawn, the Twitter account of Andi Arief, the presidential adviser for social and disaster management was hacked. The hacker wrote many incorrect messages. Please inform other friends,” Akuat wrote.
He also called on the hacker to relinquish control of Andi’s account, @AndiAriefNew.
“You, the one hacking Andi Arief’s account, please return it! You are not conducting elegant politics! Coward!”
As of 8 a.m., Andi had opened a new account, @AndiAriefNews.
“Because of the trouble I had with my old Twitter account, I am using this account to update information. Thank you,” he wrote.
Andi blamed himself on the account hijacking.
“It is probably because of my own recklessness therefore starting now I am using @AndiAriefNews, please understand,” he said.
Andi is not the first state official to become a victim of Internet hackers. Former Constitutional Court Chairman Jimly Ashiddiqie’s Facebook account was hijacked and used to sell laptops.
