Deputy Chair of DPR Commission X Urges UGM to Suspend Lecturer Serving as Advisor to Little Aresha Daycare

Jakarta - Deputy Chair of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), MY Esti Wijayanti, has urged Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to promptly suspend the lecturer with initials CD, who is listed as an advisor to Yayasan Daycare Little Aresha, if her involvement in the child abuse case is confirmed. Esti stressed that such a step is crucial as a form of anticipation and institutional responsibility, given that the incident involves violence against children and toddlers. “It would be better if she is suspended as quickly as possible, if indeed she is a suspect, but of course there is a legal process,” Esti said on Thursday (30/4/2026). This is because an active lecturer and a judge included in the foundation’s structure should understand legal matters and be able to prevent such incidents from occurring. “Precisely because she is a lecturer, if she is indeed involved, she must bear greater responsibility than others because academics should have a better understanding,” she asserted. “The punishment for educators or influential figures could be three times that imposed on the general public,” Esti revealed. The PDI-P politician also stated that she had met directly with the victims to hear their statements and aspirations. She has coordinated with the Yogyakarta City Government, police apparatus, and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. “This is a heartbreaking incident because the number of child and toddler victims is quite significant,” Esti said. Therefore, the legal process against the perpetrators must be carried out firmly to provide a deterrent effect. “The perpetrators must receive firm punishment to create a deterrent effect,” she concluded.