Chaos Erupts at Pamulang Islamic School: UIN Jakarta Responds to Viral Clash

A management dispute over an educational foundation between Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta and the Syarif Hidayatullah Foundation (YSH) has escalated. A video showing individuals from two groups shoving each other on the grounds of the Pembangunan Islamic School in Pamulang, South Tangerang, went viral on social media on Thursday. UIN Jakarta Vice-Rector II, Imam Subchi, stated that the incident should never have occurred. He claimed the university delegation was present to conduct a visitation and to socialise changes to the management of the foundation overseeing several educational units. He affirmed that the change in management is legally valid and officially recorded with the General Legal Administration at the Ministry of Law. Imam asserted that the changes recorded on 13 May carry binding legal force, meaning the foundation’s legal status is legitimately under the governance of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Beyond institutional aspects, the university also emphasised that the land and assets at the school are State Property possessing official certificates recorded in the State Asset Management Information System. Imam stated there is therefore no administrative or legal doubt regarding the status of these assets as state property. The UIN team visited the location to inspect the condition of the assets and educational facilities but was reportedly blocked by parties the university considers to lack legal standing over the disputed assets. UIN Jakarta claims the asset security operation is part of its institutional responsibility to safeguard state assets worth hundreds of billions of rupiah. Imam noted that allowing state assets to remain outside the control of legally entitled parties could result in adverse findings from the Supreme Audit Agency or the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. UIN Jakarta’s legal counsel explained that the foundations managing these educational units are institutionally linked to the government through UIN Jakarta. Meanwhile, the Chair of the Foundation’s Supervisory Board and former UIN Jakarta Rector, Dede Rosyada, claimed that the foundations had in principle surrendered their institutional management to the government via UIN Jakarta. The YSH Foundation strongly condemned the incident. Spokesperson Andi said the UIN Jakarta group stormed the school while children were studying, causing students to become hysterical, parents to panic, and teachers to be shocked. Andi added that the mob forced entry and damaged the school fence and noted that the dispute is currently being processed in the State Administrative Court and the High Court. YSH appealed for legal protection for the students and staff to prevent psychological trauma from the raid.