Prosecutor Seeks Former Kemdikbud Official's Appraisal of Nadiem Makarim's Performance

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Jaksa Penuntut Umum (JPU) briefly asked the Director of SMP Kemendikbudristek for 2020–2021, Mulyatsyah, and the Director of SD Kemendikbudristek for 2020–2021, Sri Wahyuningsih, to provide a performance assessment of their former superior, the former Mendikbudristek, Nadiem Makarim. Sri and Mulyatsyah were called as witnesses at the court in the continued proceedings of a case of alleged corruption in the procurement of laptops based on Chromebooks. Both are defendants in the same case, but with separate case files. ‘Sir, I also want to ask Mr Mul. In terms of performance, when he led this ministry, in your view, was the defendant (Nadiem) good or not? If good, what was his score? If not good, what was his score?’ One of the prosecutors asked in the session at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday (5 March 2026). Hearing the prosecutor’s question, courtroom attendees began to jeer, ‘Huuuuuuuu…’ The presiding judge, Purwanto S Abdullah, immediately interrupted, feeling the question was unnecessary. ‘I think that question is not necessary. If that is the case, it is subjective,’ said Judge Purwanto. Nadiem’s lawyer also expressed objections to the question. However, the prosecutor argued that the question should be answerable because Nadiem had previously asked a similar question to the then Acting Director General of Primary and Secondary Education Kemendikbud (Dirjen PAUDasmen) Hamid Muhammad, specifically at the 19 January 2026 session. ‘Yesterday, Your Honour, Nadiem asked Mr Hamid and Your Honour’s rights,’ said the prosecutor. The two crown witnesses were then asked if they were willing to answer the prosecutor’s question. ‘In general, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. So, if so, I may leave it to Your Honour’s decision,’ said Mulyatsyah. Before entering the question about the score, both witnesses were first asked for their views on Nadiem’s ability to carry out his duties as minister. ‘Defendant Mr Nadiem, Minister, he is someone with a background in education, isn’t he?’ asked the prosecutor.