Gibran Admits He Welcomes Student Criticism: I Am Aware There Are Still Many Shortcomings

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming received student representatives from Bung Karno University and Mohammad Husni Thamrin University at the Vice Presidential Palace on Monday, 15 June 2026. During the meeting, Gibran acknowledged that there are still many shortcomings in the implementation of various government programmes.

He therefore invited all elements of society, including students, to jointly oversee and improve various policies deemed not yet optimal. “What we have achieved so far, what has been built, we must maintain together. I am aware there are still many minuses, many shortcomings, and these are what we must fix together,” Gibran said in his statement on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.

According to him, the government will continue to open communication channels with the public to absorb input as material for refining national programmes. Students were cited as one of the important groups capable of providing criticism and evaluation of state policies.

During the dialogue, students presented a number of study findings and aspirations related to strategic national issues. The discussion covered the Free Nutritious Meals programme, the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, the education sector, revisions to several regulations, and equitable development in underdeveloped regions.

Gibran stated that all the input he received would be taken into consideration by the government going forward. “That is why I am very grateful for the input,” he said.

The Vice President also emphasised that criticism delivered in an orderly and constructive manner is an important part of the democratic development process. He therefore appreciated the students’ involvement in overseeing the running of the government. “I am pleased that critical students are participating in evaluating and providing suggestions,” said Gibran.

Meanwhile, the Action Coordinator of the Bung Karno University Student Executive Board, Muhammad Abdi Maludin, assessed that Gibran showed an open attitude throughout the audience. He said the various study findings presented by the students were well received by the Vice President. “Mr Vice President was open and accepted the study findings; he will audit and consolidate them, and he will inform the leadership, more specifically President Prabowo Subianto,” Abdi said after the meeting.

Abdi noted that the government, through the Vice President, paid attention to the demands put forward by the students and promised to follow up on a number of issues that have been in the public spotlight.