Nadiem likens his Kemendikbudristek team to protesting students

Former Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for the 2019–2024 period, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, has likened his team at the ministry to university students staging a demonstration. This is because students who have recently taken to the streets to demand improvements are instead being blocked, intercepted, and arrested. “The facts presented in the trial reveal a story that is the reverse of the indictment, namely a tale about a group of young people who are idealistic, have integrity, and are brave enough to bring real change to their nation,” Nadiem said while reading his duplik (response to the replication) at a hearing in the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. Nadiem stated that he and his team, which includes Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Jurist Tan, Fiona Handayani, Muhamad Heikal, Pramoda Dei Sudarmo, Iwan Syahril, Anindito Aditomo, Najeela Shihab, Stefani Nadia Purnama, Augus Dwi Anggara, Rangga Husnaprawira, and Deswitha Arvinci, along with hundreds of other young professionals serving the state, are part of the vanguard of national change. He said these young people were willing to leave their comfort zones to enter the world of government. Furthermore, these young people had also refused to settle abroad, choosing instead to return to their homeland and forgoing lucrative career offers in the private sector. “We prioritise impact over reward. We are loyal to the state, not to individuals, and we demand new hope for this nation,” he declared. Nadiem also said that not every court decision has an impact on the direction of the nation’s journey. He stated that young people across Indonesia and the diaspora around the world are awaiting the panel of judges’ answer to a question echoing in their hearts. “That question is whether this country is still safe for us to serve?” Nadiem said. Nadiem is one of the defendants in a case of alleged corruption in the education digitalisation programme involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops and Chrome Device Management (CDM) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology from 2019 to 2022. Previously, Nadiem was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a fine of Rp1 billion, subsidiary to 190 days’ imprisonment, and a restitution payment of Rp5.67 trillion, subsidiary to 9 years’ imprisonment. The corruption was allegedly carried out, among other things, by implementing the procurement of information and communication technology-based learning facilities in the form of Chromebook laptops and CDM for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 fiscal years, which did not comply with procurement planning and principles. The actions of the founder of a technology company were charged as being committed jointly with three other defendants in separate trials, namely Ibrahim Arief alias Ibam, Mulyatsyah, and Sri Wahyuningsih, as well as Jurist Tan, who remains at large. In detail, the resulting state losses include Rp1.56 trillion related to the education digitalisation programme at the ministry, as well as 44.05 million US dollars, equivalent to Rp621.39 billion, due to the procurement of unnecessary and useless CDM for the programme. Through these actions, Nadiem is suspected of having received Rp809.59 billion originating from PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB) via PT Gojek Indonesia. It was stated that the majority of PT AKAB’s funds came from a Google investment worth 786.99 million US dollars. This can be seen from Nadiem’s wealth recorded in the State Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN) in 2022, which shows the acquisition of securities worth Rp5.59 trillion. For his actions, the former minister faces criminal charges under Article 2 paragraph (1) or Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.