TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The University of Indonesia's (UI) decision regarding the dissertation of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has sparked criticism from various groups, including alumni of the "yellow campus."

In protest, alumni have initiated a petition titled "UI: Dismiss Bahlil and Cancel His Dissertation." As of this writing, the petition has garnered over 5,000 signatures, approaching its target of 7,500.

In the decision signed on March 4, 2025, the UI rector along with the three main organs of the UI campus (Board of Trustees, Professor Council, and Academic Senate) requested Bahlil to revise his dissertation and issue an apology addressed to the UI academic community.

Meanwhile, the internal parties of UI involved in the polemic, including the supervisors, co-supervisors, Director of the School of Strategic and Global Studies (SSGS), and the head of the study program, were given guidance.

The alumni considered the campus decision, which only requested the Chairman of the Golkar Party to revise his doctoral dissertation and postponed the promotion of the supervisors and co-supervisors of Bahlil, as damaging the dignity and integrity of UI and the academic world in Indonesia in general.

Meanwhile, they stated that Bahlil's dissertation had violated several academic provisions and honesty.

"It has been proven that there is plagiarism, data falsification, publication in predatory journals, and irregularities in the study period," as stated in the official statement received by Tempo on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

They highlighted the strict graduation procedures that the campus applies to prospective new students regarding cheating actions. If the cheater is an existing student, the campus will immediately expel them, and the campus will not admit prospective students who hire their services.

Meanwhile, they saw that the campus did not apply the same approach to Bahlil's dissertation case. "This is a scandal in the education world that will tarnish the image of education in Indonesia, deteriorate the quality of education, and make it difficult to compete internationally," they said.

Accompanying the petition, the UI alumni association, along with the UI academic community and concerned members of the public, have put forward three demands as follows:

1. UI firmly dismisses Bahlil as a doctoral student and cancels his dissertation.

2. Dismiss the supervisors and co-supervisors of Bahlil's dissertation dishonorably.

3. If the UI rector and members of the Board of Trustees are unable to take a firm stance, please resign for failing to uphold the integrity and dignity of academic excellence at UI.

Editor's Choice: UI Professors on Bahlil's Doctorate Scandal: Passed Dissertation Can't Be Revised

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