BEM quits IPB rectorial election

BOGOR: A student representative on the Board of Trustees of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) walked out of a meeting in connection with its rectorial election on Monday.

"Many irregularities occurred in the election process, which is too much influenced by group interests. It seems the election process is simply useless while it probably cost hundreds of millions of rupiah," said Arief Maulana, president of the Students' Executive Board (BEM), and who represents the students on the Board of Trustees.

He referred to the irregularities, particularly what happened when short-listing the rectorial candidates from nine to five earlier this month.

The candidates will later be short-listed to two before one is chosen as rector of the institute.

He said that BEM was trying to meet Minister of Education Malik Fajar to discuss the matter.--JP