Gibran's Educational Credentials Issue Under Scrutiny, Volunteers: Grassroots Defending Him

The volunteers supporting Gibran Rakabuming Raka, organised under the national network ‘Gibranku’, have expressed profound concern regarding the minimal voice and defence from political parties concerning the issue of educational certificates being directed at Gibran.

The General Chairman of Gibranku, Ananta Agung Junaedy, emphasised that political loyalty should not only apply during campaign periods, the distribution of seats, or the determination of strategic roles. True loyalty, he stated, must serve as a protective shield when the endorsed figure faces unfounded attacks in public opinion.

“We at the grassroots level continue to move and stand firm, yet we see almost no proportional defence from the political parties that have stood in the same ranks until now. It is very unfortunate if political calculations cause coalition partners to appear to be ‘playing it safe’ and leaving their figure to be attacked alone. We wish to remind political parties that loyalty is tested during a storm, not just when the sea is calm,” Ananta asserted in a statement on Sunday, 27 September 2026.

Gibranku presented three points addressed to coalition political parties. First, coalition parties must be consistent in their defence. They should not only be willing to enjoy the results of shared political hard work but also be brave enough to shoulder the responsibility of correcting disinformation in the public sphere. This issue regarding educational certificates is a form of character assassination that must be fought collectively, rather than avoided for the sake of a comfort zone.

“Political dignity and loyalty—a healthy and dignified coalition is built on mutual trust and mutual protection. The silence and ‘playing it safe’ attitude of political parties actually raises significant questions among volunteers and the wider public regarding the true direction of these parties’ loyalty,” he said.

Thirdly, regarding the synergy between elites and the grassroots, volunteers demand that political elites immediately tighten their ranks, cast aside pragmatic attitudes, and demonstrate decisiveness before the media.

“Solidarity at the elite level is crucial to maintaining the calm, morale, and fighting spirit of supporters at the lower levels,” he added.

Gibranku ensured that the ranks of volunteers across all regions will remain solid, aligned, and will not be influenced by these negative issues.