JAKARTA \u2014 The Prosecution and former Education, Culture, Research and\nTechnology Minister Nadiem Makarim engaged in debate regarding the\nauthority to determine Chrome operating system in the technical\nspecifications for information technology procurement intended for\nstudents.<\/p>\n
This occurred when Nadiem was examined as a witness in a continued\nhearing of the alleged corruption case involving Chromebook laptop\nprocurement for three defendants.<\/p>\n
These are former Technology Consultant at the Education Ministry\nIbrahim Arief; Director of Junior Secondary Schools at the Education\nMinistry 2020\u20132021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Mulyatsyah; and\nDirector of Primary Schools at the Education Ministry 2020\u20132021 and\nBudget User Authority Sri Wahyuningsih.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, whose decision is it according to you? If it is not the\nminister\u2019s decision based on the rules mentioned, given the slide\npresented, if you say that is not the minister\u2019s decision, whose\ndecision is it?\u201d asked Prosecutor Roy Riady during the hearing at the\nJakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause technical specifications are not ministerial policy. That is\nwhy there was no ministerial regulation whatsoever in 2020 and the\ndirector had full authority to change specifications with\ndirectorate-general approval,\u201d said Nadiem.<\/p>\n
Upon hearing this response, the prosecution concluded, \u201cSo this was\nthe error of Mr Mul and Mrs Sri in creating the implementation\nguidelines and technical guidelines?\u201d<\/p>\n
The prosecutor\u2019s question left Nadiem confused. He stated he had\nnever named who was at fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cProsecutor, I have not stated that Mr Mul and Mrs Sri were at fault\nbecause I do not know what actions Mr Mul took except from the trial\nproceedings,\u201d said Nadiem.<\/p>\n
He affirmed that based on trial evidence, he had not found errors in\nthe procurement process.<\/p>\n
The debate between the prosecution and Nadiem continued for some\ntime. The prosecution pressed on the question of who decided to procure\nusing Chrome operating system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is your decision as minister. Is it Mr Mul\u2019s decision and Mrs\nSri\u2019s decision? That is the question,\u201d the prosecutor asked.<\/p>\n
Nadiem affirmed that he never discussed decision-making in this\nprocurement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am asking about the decision. You answer,\u201d pressed Prosecutor\nRoy.<\/p>\n
Nadiem affirmed that the decision was made by the competent\nauthority.<\/p>\n
Judge Purwanto S Abdullah, the presiding judge, intervened and took\nover the prosecutor\u2019s questioning.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, just answer this. There was indeed a final decision to\ndetermine Chrome OS. Now, the prosecution\u2019s question regarding the\ndecision to use Chrome OS, whose decision was it? Was it the minister\u2019s,\nthe director\u2019s, or a staff expert\u2019s, or who determined it?\u201d asked Judge\nPurwanto.<\/p>\n
Nadiem explained the decision-making process that had been conducted\nat the Education Ministry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decision was made based on the recommendation of the technical\nteam and made by a directorate-general decision letter that delegated it\nto the director,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This process had been conducted not only during his tenure but since\nprevious ministers.<\/p>\n
Nadiem stated that although he did not provide direction regarding\nthe choice of operating system, he still needed to sign the ministerial\nregulation on the decentralised general allocation fund.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am obligated to sign the decentralised general allocation fund\nministerial regulation as minister every year. Because this regulation\nconsolidates all the results of the specifications and provisions of the\ndirector, which are appended, and I sign,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecution-and-nadiem-debate-over-authority-to-determine-chrome-as-it-procurement-specification-1773139982", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }