BRIN Researchers Andi Pangerang Hasanuddin Proven To Have Violated Discipline

The suspect in the alleged hate speech case Andi Pangerang Hasanuddin/ANTARA PHOTO/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/tom.

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has held a disciplinary punishment hearing against astronomy researcher Andi Pangerang Hasanuddin (APH) who wrote hate speech comments threatening Muhammadiah through social media.

Head of the Organizational Bureau, and Human Resources BRIN Ratih Retno Wulandari said the results of the trial for alleged disciplinary violations of the actions committed by APH by the BRIN Civil Servant Disciplinary Audit Team were found guilty of disciplinary violations.

"Members from the Civil Servant Disciplinary Examining Team consist of direct superiors, personnel elements, supervisory elements and other appointed officials," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 10.

Ratih said that the disciplinary punishment was held behind closed doors from 09.30 to 12.30 WIB, Tuesday (9/5). The trial was held as a follow-up to the recommendation of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) ethics trial on April 26.

In the disciplinary punishment hearing, several questions and answers were given to APH from the previous trial as a form of clarification and stated in the minutes.

Based on the trial, Ratih said, the Civil Servant Disciplinary Examining Team made recommendations to be submitted to the Personnel Guidance Officer along with the Investigation Minutes which had been signed by the Civil Servant and APH Disciplinary Examining Team.

"The Civil Servant Disciplinary Examining Team at this trial has just given a recommendation, the punishment type decision is with the Civil Service Guidance Officer," he explained.

Ratih explained that the recommendation for sanctions to be imposed on APH took into account the impact of APH's actions, seeing mitigating and burdensome things.

The Examining Team will be submitted to the Head of BRIN as the Personnel Guidance Officer who will decide the sanctions to be given.

Meanwhile, BRIN's Main Secretary Nur Tri Aries Suestiningtyas revealed that the Ethics and Code of Conduct Council Session had also been held against APH's superior, TD. The trial was held from 14.00 to 19.00 WIB, Tuesday (2/5).

"From the results of the clarification at the trial, information was obtained regarding the context of the text that was widely discussed," said Nur.

Although the context of the sentence is related to the determination of Eid al-Fitr, it can be understood differently, the context can become wider depending on the reader interpreting it.

"For this matter, the person concerned admits that he has been negligent that in the public sphere the discussion cannot use languages that are limited in context or choice of words that are considered normal in his community, but it is not uncommon for public consumption," he said.

Nur said that so far, hot discussions have often occurred on the social media pages concerned, especially regarding the determination of Islamic holidays.

"According to the person concerned, it is necessary to conduct education and dissemination regarding the results of his research and as a member of the Ministry of Religion's reckoning/rukyat team since 1996," he explained.

"However, the person concerned is also aware of this case as an important lesson in the future that scientific discussions when conducted in the public sphere can cause a lot of misunderstandings," added Nur.