JK Addresses Viral Lecture on Social Media

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, has provided clarification regarding a video of his that went viral on social media following a report accusing him of alleged religious blasphemy. He delivered this explanation alongside figures invited to contextualise the matter at a location on Rasuna Said, Setiabudi, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026). Those figures were involved in the Malino I and Malino II peace negotiations as a resolution to religious conflicts in Poso and Ambon decades ago. “Most people generally understand (the content of my lecture is not as accused). But what I am worried about is the effect. The effect on those who do not understand; if this does not stop, it could arise in the regions,” said Jusuf Kalla, when met on Rasuna Said on Tuesday. The man commonly known as JK explained that the content of his lecture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) concerned the peace process as requested by the organisers, not as alleged by certain parties. He was recounting his mediation methods during the intense conflicts in those two eastern Indonesian regions. Jusuf Kalla is known as a key figure in creating peace during that era. He became a non-military figure bridging distrust between groups. JK sought to mediate in an informal, swift style based on personal negotiation—approaching local leaders, bringing conflicting parties together, and asking the central government to provide space for dialogue. He has extensive networks with both Muslim and Christian figures. “A long road to peace was the topic of the discussion, so I spoke about peace. Perhaps the gentlemen have read or followed it in the media. I spoke about peace in the world, why it happened in Iran, why in Ukraine, why the World War, why this and that,” said JK. Historical facts show that the mediation carried out by JK 25 years ago succeeded with the issuance of two major peace agreements. The Malino I Declaration was born in December 2001 for the Poso conflict, and the Malino II Declaration for the Maluku conflict in February 2002. Their main contents include cessation of violence, law enforcement, repatriation of refugees, social reconciliation, and regional rehabilitation.