Former Dirjen of Mendikbudristek Reveals 'Knowledge Gap' Between Prosecutors and Nadiem
The trial over alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebooks, which has implicated former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has intensified once again.
Hilmar Farid, the former Director General of Culture at Kemendikbudristek from 2015 to 2024, attended the hearing and pointed out differences in perspectives between the prosecutors and the defendant.
According to Hilmar, the digitalisation initiatives in education pursued by Nadiem during his tenure represented one of the major transformations in the national education system. However, he observed that the legal process unfolding revealed a wide chasm in understanding regarding innovation and technology.
“What I also gathered from the trial recordings is an extraordinary knowledge gap between the accusers and the accused. It’s like two different worlds, because one side is talking about implementing innovation, technology, explaining startups, and the economic dimensions, while the questions are entirely different, with a completely different framework of thinking. And I think this might be an issue beyond the facts of the trial; once again, I’m not commenting on the legal process, but this is the situation we’re facing,” Hilmar stated, as quoted on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
He expressed concern that innovative steps in the education sector could lead to criminalisation. In his view, such a situation could impact the future of educational transformation in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Nadiem’s legal team, represented by Dodi S. Abdulkadir, emphasised that his client was not involved in the technical procurement process of the Chromebooks now under scrutiny in the trial.
Dodi explained that the entire procurement process was carried out by structural officials under the ministry. Nadiem was said to have only performed administrative functions as minister by signing the Minister of Education Regulation regarding technical specifications for the use of Special Allocation Funds (DAK).
“The facts presented by Mr Nadiem clearly show that what has been stated, which forms the basis of this trial, has become blurred because the construction of the case, according to the BPKP audit results, concerns the overpricing of the Chromebook procurement. From Mr Nadiem’s responses to the prosecutors’ questions, it has been proven that there was not a single action taken by Mr Nadiem in relation to the procurement. The procurement process, as explained, was carried out by structural officials under the Minister. There was no interference, no involvement (from Nadiem) in the procurement process. So Mr Nadiem has explained that the only action he took was signing the Permendikbud from 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Permendikbud regarding technical specifications related to the use of Special Allocation Funds. So there was no ministerial decision taken in connection with the Chromebook procurement,” Dodi said.