Witness in Gibran PHPU Hearing: KPU Cannot Reject High School Equivalence Certificate
Former Commissioner of the General Elections Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2007-2012 period, I Gusti Putu Artha, revealed that the KPU cannot reject equivalence certificates issued by authorised institutions during the hearing for case number: 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 concerning the Dispute of the 2024 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election Results at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday night.
“Can the KPU RI reject an equivalence certificate issued by an authorised institution stating that someone’s education abroad is equivalent, equal, or commensurate with high school in Indonesia?” asked Andi Azwan, representing the related party (Perkumpulan Militan Gibran 08 Nusantara), during the proceedings.
Putu explained that the KPU cannot reject all incoming candidate registration documents; however, the authenticity of those documents must still be verified.
“During the registration process, the KPU cannot reject. Regardless of the document, even if it is damaged, they cannot reject it because the KPU has the capacity to verify whether these documents are complete or not, and whether they are correct, and will subsequently communicate. They cannot reject,” answered Putu.
“What I mean by saying they cannot reject is, does this mean the document is automatically correct or meets the requirements? Not necessarily, because there is a subsequent phase,” he clarified.
In addition to the witness, the Petitioners also brought experts including Titi Anggraini, Bivitri Susanti, and Yance Arizona. The eligibility requirements for Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a Vice Presidential candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election are currently being challenged in the Constitutional Court.
The Petitioners include the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP), Partai Ummat, former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana, and six citizens part of the Forum Purnawirandum Prajurit TNI, namely M Subhan, Bonatua Silalahi, and Tiurma M.S. Sihombing.
Denny Indrayana explained that the document serving as a requirement for Gibran’s candidacy is merely an equivalence certificate, not proof of graduation or a diploma.
“The available document is only an education equivalence certificate issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture,” said Denny in his statement on Wednesday.
According to Denny, the certificate submitted to the KPU as a candidacy requirement states that Gibran attended UTS Insearch in Sydney, Australia. The letter states that Gibran’s education is equivalent to Grade 12 or high school, specifically equivalent to a vocational high school (SMK) specialising in Accounting.
He noted that the letter does not indicate that the individual has graduated from the school. “This letter was never officially presented. The letter was only obtained after an acquaintance, Bonatua Silalahi, requested it from the ministry,” he added.