Summary of Facts on the Impact of the MPR RI Quiz Controversy
In response to the uproar on social media, MPR RI has officially issued an apology and taken firm sanctions. The MPR RI General Secretariat has deactivated the jury panel and the event host (MC) who were involved in the quiz competition. MPR assures that it will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the competition’s technical aspects, including the scoring mechanism, participant answer verification system, and complaint management procedures. “MPR RI through the MPR RI General Secretariat conveys an apology for the jury’s negligence that caused controversy regarding the implementation of the MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition (LCC) in West Kalimantan Province,” states the official MPR statement.
The host of the Four Pillars LCC, Shindy Lutfiana, has also expressed regret over her remarks captured in a viral video. Shindy specifically apologised for her response to the protests from SMAN 1 Pontianak participants, saying it might just be their feelings. “With all humility, I convey my deepest apologies for all my statements, especially ‘maybe that’s just the little siblings’ feelings’ which should not have been said in my capacity as MC in that event,” said Shindy. She fully realises that her words have caused disappointment and hurt the feelings of the competition participants, the guiding teachers from SMAN 1 Pontianak, and the people of West Kalimantan.
The secret behind the bravery of the SMAN 1 Pontianak students in protesting the decision of the Head of the MPR RI General Secretariat’s Assessment Bureau, Dyastasita, as the jury, has garnered much attention. They felt disadvantaged because they received a minus five score, while SMAN 1 Sambas was given 10 points for the exact same substantive answer. Student named Almira revealed that this bravery stemmed from the openness and “chemistry” built by the team from the start. During preparation, the team always held routine evaluations at the end of training sessions with the coach to get used to being open and not getting carried away by emotions if there were mistakes. This openness and thorough preparation made them confident in their answer, so Almira stated, “That’s why we were so confident there to protest to the jury.”
Following the LCC incident, Josepha Alexandra, or fondly known as Ocha, has received massive sympathy and support from the wider public.