MPR's Quiz Competition Scoring System Overhauled, Now Features 'VAR'

Acting Secretary General of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Siti Fauziah has announced a series of improvements and updates for the 2026 MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition (LCC). The innovations include refining the scoring system, strengthening oversight mechanisms, and adding award categories to enhance the quality of the competition. One of the changes implemented is the use of a monitoring system that allows the jury and committee to conduct a review if differences of opinion arise during the scoring process. The review is carried out by watching a replay of the disputed moment, similar to the VAR system in football which enables referees to review video footage before making or overturning a decision on an incident on the pitch. “In the LCC championship, there is now a monitoring system. If there is a problem or disagreement in scoring, we can look at the replay. We have also involved more regional judges,” said Titi, her nickname, in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday (14/6). Titi made the statement after presenting the trophy and medals to SMAN 2 Katingan Kuala as the first-place winner of the MPR RI Four Pillars LCC for high schools across Central Kalimantan Province at the Kalawa Convention Hall, Palangka Raya, on Saturday (13/6). According to her, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted on various technical aspects of the competition so that the LCC runs more transparently, objectively, and accountably. In addition, the MPR RI now requires all jury members to use monitor headphones during the competition. This measure is taken to ensure every participant’s answer can be heard clearly, thereby minimising the potential for scoring errors. “We evaluated many technical aspects of the competition. Now, judges must also use headphones. It is mandatory so they can hear the participants’ answers more clearly,” she said. The current LCC also features a new category, namely the best chant appreciation award. This award is given to participants who demonstrate creativity and national spirit through the chants performed at the start of the competition. Titi explained that the assessment not only focuses on the enthusiasm shown by participants but also considers elements of regional culture, nationalism, and the ability to appropriately combine the use of regional languages, Indonesian, and foreign languages. “We now assess these chants with the hope that participants will display creations with regional, national, and international flavours. I personally observe the good use of regional languages, foreign languages, and Indonesian in the material presented,” she said. At the 2026 MPR RI Four Pillars LCC for Central Kalimantan Province, the best chant appreciation award in preliminary round 1 was given to SMAN 1 Pangkalan Bun, in preliminary round 2 to SMAN 1 Kuala Kurun, and in preliminary round 3 to SMAN 1 Buntok. Titi hopes this category can be maintained until the grand final of the MPR RI Four Pillars LCC in Jakarta, serving as a space for participants to express creativity while strengthening their understanding of national values. “The hope is that this best chant appreciation will continue to be held until the grand final in Jakarta,” she said. These improvements were made following a national controversy during the final of the MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition in West Kalimantan Province some time ago. The controversy was triggered when the jury gave different scores for the same answer. At that time, a participant from Group C of SMAN 1 Pontianak who pressed the bell first and was invited to answer received a score of -5. When the question was read out again and Group B from SMAN 1 Sambas answered, the jury awarded a score of 10, even though Group B’s answer was identical to the one given earlier by Group C. This controversy sparked public criticism, prompting the MPR to issue a public apology.