Nadiem Reveals Hamid Muhammad's Statement That Made Him a Defendant in Chromebook Case
Jakarta — Former Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim revealed that a single statement from former Director General of Basic and Secondary Education Hamid Muhammad is what made him a defendant in the case.
He made this statement when being examined as a witness in a continued hearing of the alleged corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook-based laptops for three defendants.
The defendants are technology consultant Ibrahim Arief, who worked within the Education and Culture Ministry; Mulyatsyah, Director of the State Junior Secondary School (SMP) under the Education and Culture Ministry in 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA); and Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of the State Primary School (SD) under the Education and Culture Ministry in 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA).
Mulyatsyah’s legal team initially asked about meeting notes dated 27 May 2020.
Before Mulyatsyah’s legal team could move on to their follow-up questions, Nadiem interjected with remarks about Hamid’s statement.
According to him, Hamid’s statement is what made him a defendant in the Chromebook case.
“On 6 May 2020, all the witnesses below—none of them ever mentioned that I received a directive from the Minister. It was always said that Pak Hamid told me that based on that meeting, this had already been directed and decided by the Minister,” Nadiem said.
He stated that Hamid himself never mentioned any directives through WhatsApp messages or in other meetings.
Nadiem said he only gave instructions during the 6 May 2020 meeting after reading the technical assessment recommendations submitted by the study team.
“So 100 per cent, Pak Hamid’s understanding came from the 6 May meeting where there was already a recommendation, so I said, ‘Yes, go ahead’, that’s it,” Nadiem said.
However, this phrase became contentious because Nadiem insisted he never used that exact wording. He only said “Go Ahead”. After the meeting with Nadiem, Hamid held another meeting with other ministry officials.
“And Pak Hamid, because of his statement at the meeting that same day, announced it to everyone—Bu Poppy, Pak Khamim, everyone. So their understanding was all based on one statement from Pak Hamid: ‘In accordance with the Minister’s direction’,” Nadiem said.
Nadiem highlighted the phrase “in accordance with the Minister’s direction” that Hamid Muhammad conveyed during a meeting the same day, just two hours after the first meeting.
“That’s the danger of one sentence—I became a suspect,” Nadiem said.