Jokowi and JK Exchange Views Following Prolonged Diploma Controversy
President of the Republic of Indonesia’s seventh term, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and the tenth and twelfth Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, have exchanged differing views on the case involving Jokowi’s graduation diploma from the Faculty of Forestry at UGM.
This stems from JK reporting Rismon Sianipar to the police over suspicions of spreading hoaxes and defaming his name.
JK personally visited the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency headquarters in South Jakarta to report Rismon earlier in the week.
JK’s Statement
JK took issue with Rismon’s remarks claiming that he funded Roy Suryo and associates in the case of Jokowi’s undergraduate diploma.
“I am reporting Rismon Sianipar for actions that I consider harmful to me, because he said I funded Roy Suryo and his associates regarding Mr Jokowi’s diploma,” JK said after the report, on Wednesday (8/4).
JK described the accusation as highly unethical and insulting. He also referenced his position as Vice President alongside Jokowi in the first term (2014-2019).
“It is very unethical for me; Mr Jokowi is the President whom I served as deputy to. We were together in the government, side by side for five years,” he stated.
Following the report, JK also asked Jokowi to show his original diploma. In this way, JK believed the issue would no longer drag on.
JK opined that the case has already become prolonged. He stated that the controversy has harmed many parties, including himself, who has lost time by being dragged into this matter.
“Actually, the problem is simple, because I am certain that Mr Jokowi has an original diploma. So, let’s just stop this matter by having Mr Jokowi show his original diploma,” JK told reporters on Wednesday (8/4).
Jokowi’s Statement
In response, Jokowi emphasised that the diploma is a private document. He holds full rights over it.
Conversely, Jokowi challenged those claiming his diploma is fake to prove their accusations.
“It is those who accuse who should prove it, not me being asked to show it,” Jokowi said on Friday (10/4).
He expressed concern that complying with demands from various parties to show his diploma would set a bad precedent.
“Then anyone could accuse, and (the accused) would be asked to show proof. That would be turning things upside down,” he said.
Additionally, Jokowi responded to JK’s comments that the case has dragged on and harmed many parties.
Jokowi said he had already reported the accusations by Roy Suryo and others to the Metro Jaya Regional Police since last year. However, the case remains under investigation to this day.
He hopes the police can process the case more quickly so it can soon proceed to court.
“This has been almost a year now. Proceed to P21 quickly and hand it over to the court so we can show what is true and what is not,” said the father of Vice President RI Gibran Rakabuming Raka.