Minister Bahlil Suspects Someone Behind Academia Criticism Against Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that he appreciated the views of the academic community on the leadership of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi as a form of freedom of expression. However, the Golkar Party politician suspected that someone was behind the current stream of such criticism.

“We know it. I can feel it. As a former BEM (Student Executive Council) chairman, I understand these kinds of stuff,” Bahlil said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Monday, February 5, 2024.

He also stressed the need to maintain the dignity of the campus. 

Since last week, several educational institutions from various regions such as Gadjah Mada University, Indonesian Islamic University, and the University of Indonesia have expressed concern about the national political dynamics and violations of democratic principles leading up to the 2024 elections.

Most recently, hundreds of students, lecturers, and professors at the Indonesian University of Education (UPI) gathered on Monday, February 5, 2024, to declare the Bumi Siliwangi Petition, expressing concern about the national condition and President Jokowi's stance.

Minister Bahlil, who currently serves on Prabowo-Gibran's strategic campaign team, also accused some groups of not being independent in conveying their criticism.

On February 2, 2024, Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana said criticism is a vitamin to keep improving the quality of democracy. However, he argued that the current wave of criticism against Jokowi was deliberately orchestrated for electoral interest. “The strategy of partisan politics is allowed in political contests.”

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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