DPR Commission X Claims Ignorance Over Prabowo's New University for Future Leaders
Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR), Lalu Hadrian, has admitted he was unaware of the Republic of Indonesia University (URI), newly established and announced by President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday (23 July).
Lalu said Commission X, as the government’s partner in the field of education, had never discussed the establishment of URI. As a result, he said, he did not know the institution’s functions, legal basis or budget.
“Commission X of the DPR RI has to this day never discussed the establishment of URI, whether in meetings or on official agendas. We have not received any formal explanation regarding its legal basis, duties, functions or budget,” Lalu said when contacted on Thursday (24 July).
He said the government ought to have explained what distinguishes URI or what added value it brings compared with the many campuses and state service academies already operating in Indonesia.
The government, Lalu continued, must also ensure the institution does not duplicate the roles of those existing institutions.
“In our view, the government is obliged to demonstrate URI’s added value amid the many state universities and service academies that have already produced leaders, and to guarantee there is no duplication of roles,” he said.
The PKB politician stressed that Commission X is still awaiting an official explanation from the government. He said his side would raise the matter during a working meeting with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology after the upcoming August recess.
“At the moment we are still awaiting an explanation from the government, perhaps during the working meeting with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology in the next session, so that this policy does not give rise to questions and polemics in society,” he said.
Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi explained that URI is an institution being prepared to train future national leaders, adopting a model of leadership education applied in several countries.
According to him, a number of countries have already adopted similar institutions tasked with preparing future leaders to fill strategic positions in government.
In France, he said, there is the École nationale d’administration (ENA), which has since become the Institut National du Service Public (INSP), an educational institution for prospective government officials.
Through a similar model, the government hopes that future leaders in Indonesia will possess technical capability as well as a strong sense of national awareness.
“So it is hoped that all of them will have technical capabilities and, most importantly, a strong sense of nationhood. We are all carrying out this mandate in the interest of the nation and the state,” Prasetyo said.