TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said the criticism voiced by the students' executive board (BEM) of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta was a practice of democracy. However, he reminded them to uphold Eastern ethics and manners.

“I have reminded all that we uphold Eastern ethics,” the President told reporters in Pademangan District, North Jakarta, on Monday, December 11.

The UGM BEM recently declared the President as the 'Most Embarrassing UGM Alumnus' and installed a billboard of the President's picture in the campus area on Friday, Dec. 8.

The billboard installation coincided with the public discussion related to the alumnus' monarchical regime, the collapse of democracy and the constitution, and the political dynasty.

The discussion featured several speakers including activists Haris Azhar, Fatia Maulidiyanti, and Zainal Arifin Mochtar.

“We made this billboard as a form of disappointment with Jokowi, who has failed to solve the nation's fundamental problems during his two terms despite having plenty of time,” the UGM BEM chairman Gielbran Muhammad Noor said on the sidelines of the event.

Gielbran also mentioned that the constitution was in a state of disrepair following the scandal within the Constitutional Court (MK) under the leadership of Jokowi's brother-in-law, Anwar Usman. The scandal involved passing the law that cleared the way for Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run with Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming presidential election.

In response to the issue of political dynasty, Jokowi has repeatedly said that the decision is in the hands of the people.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

Editor's Choice: Jokowi to Hold Plenary Cabinet Meeting Today

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo in Google News