UI student apologises and regrets scribbling on a female police officer's headscarf during protest at the Indonesian National Police Headquarters

Depok, Kompas.com — A Universitas Indonesia (UI) student, initials MRM, has apologised for scribbling on a female police officer’s headscarf during a demonstration at Mabes Polri in South Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.

UI’s Director of Public Affairs, Media, Government and International Relations, Erwin Panigoro, said the university had followed up on the circulating video involving the student.

After a thorough internal clarification process, MRM acknowledged and regretted their actions.

‘Based on internal clarification, the student confirmed they carried out the act of scribbling and expressed remorse for the action,’ Panigoro said in a statement on Friday, 6 March 2026.

MRM realises that scribbling on the female police officer identified by initials T did not align with the ethical values and the mutual respect upheld by UI.

‘With full awareness I express my apologies to T, the female officer and member of the Indonesian National Police who was affected by my action during the protest,’ MRM said in the statement.

Going forward, MRM will prioritise prudent expression of opinions in public spaces and commits to undergoing the entire process to be determined by Universitas Indonesia.

‘I express sincere remorse and commit to following the reintegration/disciplinary process set by Universitas Indonesia with full responsibility,’ MRM added.

The incidents referred to include, respectively, a PNJ student identified as SB who shouted at and directed at officers, and the UI student who scribbled on the policewoman’s headwear.

Head of Public Relations for Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, lamented the mass action for scribbling on the white headscarf worn by the officer.

‘Even though during the event we saw some students who also shouted at and even wrote on the policewoman’s headscarf with inappropriate words,’ he said in a separate interview.