YouTuber Reveals Differences in Legalisation Stamps on Jokowi's Diploma Copies from PDIP and KPU

YouTuber Mikhael Sinaga has claimed he obtained an official copy of the diploma of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), a document originally submitted for presidential candidacy. He subsequently compared this copy with one held by the General Elections Commission (KPU). The KPU copy of Jokowi’s diploma was officially obtained some time ago from public policy expert Bonatua Silalahi.

After comparing the two copies of the diploma belonging to the father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Mikhael claimed to have found a difference in the placement of the legalisation stamp. ‘The placement of the legalisation is different, the stamp is different. They are all in the top right, but when we place them side by side or overlay them, if we overlay and hold them up to the light, it becomes apparent that they are slightly different,’ Mikhael was quoted as saying on Monday.

Mikhael obtained the diploma copy after submitting an information request to PDIP the previous week. He stated that Jokowi’s diploma document was needed for investigative reporting purposes. As a former legislative candidate, Mikhael explained that during the nomination process, all candidate documents are typically first submitted to the political party before being forwarded to the KPU. ‘So, from my personal experience, a candidate, any candidate, whether for the DPR, mayor, governor, or president, should submit one set of documents to the party. Then the party submits them to the KPU,’ he said.

When contacted separately, PDIP politician Guntur Romli explained that the party provided a number of documents, including copies of the high school diploma, undergraduate degree certificate, and other files. ‘We opened all the files, the high school diploma, the undergraduate diploma, and other files that could be disclosed under the Public Information Disclosure Act,’ Guntur said.

There has been no official statement yet from Jokowi or his representatives regarding the diploma copy obtained by the YouTuber from PDIP. Jokowi is known to be a former PDIP cadre, having used the party as a political vehicle to run in the Solo mayoral election, the Jakarta gubernatorial election, and two presidential elections. Jokowi’s relationship with PDIP fractured following the controversial Constitutional Court ruling that enabled his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to become a participant in the 2024 Presidential Election. Jokowi, along with Gibran and his son-in-law Bobby Nasution, are no longer part of PDIP. Jokowi is now rumoured to be on the Board of Trustees of the Indonesian Solidarity Party, the party led by his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarepe.