MP: Students Proven to Use Exam Proxy Services Must Be Expelled

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Muhammad Hilman Mufidi, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), believes that students proven to have used proxy services in the Computer-Based Written Test (UTBK) for the Joint Selection for Entry into State Universities (SBMPTN) must be expelled from the universities that have accepted them.

“Active students who are proven to have entered state universities through proxy practices must be expelled or dropped out (DO). They have committed fraud from the initial admission process. This concerns academic integrity and justice for other participants who struggled honestly,” Hilman said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He made this statement in response to the revelation of a proxy syndicate case in the UTBK SBMPTN by the Surabaya Metropolitan Police Resort. In the case, police managed to arrest 14 suspects from various professional backgrounds, ranging from high-achieving students, private sector employees, civil servants (ASN), to doctors.

The police also found approximately 114 clients or users of the syndicate’s services. According to Hilman, the proxy service users who are currently active students must face firm academic consequences.

“State universities must also conduct internal investigations. If students who were clients of the proxy syndicate are found, the campus is obliged to take firm action by expelling those students. Similarly, if there are lecturers or internal campus parties suspected of involvement, they must be processed according to applicable rules and laws,” he said.

He then emphasised that eradicating proxy practices in higher education selection is an important step to maintain the quality of national education and ensure that the selection system runs fairly, transparently, and with integrity.

“This is not a small case. They have been operating for nine years. This means there is a systematic network and the possibility of involving many parties. Therefore, I urge the police to thoroughly investigate this case to its roots. Whoever is involved must be dealt with firmly according to the applicable law,” he stated.