Vice President Gibran Meets Viral Students from SMAN 1 Pontianak in MPR Competition
A number of students from SMAN 1 Pontianak, who previously attracted public attention after performing in the final round of the 2026 MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition at the provincial level in West Kalimantan, had the opportunity to meet Vice President Gibran Rakabuming at the Vice Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5/2026). During the audience, the Vice President motivated them to continue achieving excellence.
The meeting was also attended by accompanying teachers and several students from SMAN 1 Pontianak. Among them were Indang Maryati, Yenni, Rio Pratama, Almira Khairunnisa, Louisa Nathania, Ahmad Zein Alaydrus, Ansella Beyna Vebrianty, Khansa Reka Qatrunnada, Rajiq Maafi Sukandar, Kasandra Aurelia Subagio, Naurah Widya Arfi, and Zerlinda.
One student named Josepha Alexandra Roxa Potifera, or Oca, said that she and her team felt happy yet surprised upon receiving the sudden invitation to meet Vice President Gibran. She and her peers admitted to receiving special motivation from Gibran.
“Of course, I feel very happy because we were invited by the Vice President of Indonesia; this becomes a hope and spirit for us to keep moving forward and developing. Earlier, we were given motivation by Mr Vice President to continue studying and achieving,” Oca said after the meeting.
According to another student, Almira Khairunnisa, during the meeting, Gibran delivered a message for the students to remain enthusiastic about learning and not to be easily swayed by issues circulating on social media. “The issues that keep circulating, which currently concern us as teenage prestige, are certainly inseparable from digitalisation like that,” Almira said.
She explained that Gibran also provided advice on public speaking skills and debating techniques in public. “Earlier, we were given motivation and tips and tricks on how to do public speaking or debate in public,” Almira stated.
She recounted that the group of students departed from Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, to Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon (12/5/2026) Western Indonesia Time, and arrived that night. Almira conveyed that the invitation for the audience from Gibran was received suddenly, leaving the entire team shocked.
“Of course, we and the team were very shocked because the information came suddenly, and we were also happy to be invited to Jakarta to meet Mr Vice President,” Almira explained.
Previously, the incident went viral on social media regarding the judging in the final round of the 2026 MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition at the provincial level in West Kalimantan. The competition drew scrutiny after a student protested an explanation that was correct but was nonetheless deducted five points. The student protested repeatedly, but the judges did not heed it.