MUI Emphasises Strengthening Moral Education in Response to UI Harassment Case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has expressed deep concern over the alleged verbal sexual harassment case involving dozens of students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia (UI).

MUI Deputy General Chairman Cholil Nafis emphasised the importance of strengthening moral education, in addition to the intellectual aspects that have been the primary focus in higher education institutions.

“I am saddened that our children, who are future leaders, at a top university that produces leaders, are involved in something like this,” said Kiai Cholil in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to him, education is not sufficient in merely producing academically intelligent individuals, but must also build character and integrity.

He stressed the need for enhanced value-based education, including Pancasila and religious education, to shape a generation that is not only intelligent but also of good moral character.

“So, building civilisation is not enough with just cleverness or intellect alone, but also emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and in that, we need to instil religious values,” he said.

He also encouraged the role of religious institutions in the campus environment, including mosques, to become centres for moral and spiritual guidance for students.

Furthermore, Kiai Cholil added that strengthening religious values should be carried out for all adherents of religions, so that intellectual development is not detached from emotional and spiritual guidance.

“So that intellectuality is not dry from emotional strengthening and religious strength,” he said.