Head Of BRIN Affirms Research Institutes Not Involved In Politics

Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Laksana Tri Handoko spoke at the "Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange" at Chongqing, China, Monday (6/11/2023) (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Laksana Tri Handoko said research institutions were not involved in politics ahead of the 2024 election even though the BRIN Steering Committee was one of the chairmen of a political party.

"It has been proven that BRIN has not played politics for 2.5 years," said Laksana Tri Handoko on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange ( Belt and Path Conference for Science and Technology Exchange) in Chongqing, China reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 6.

Based on Article 7 of Presidential Regulation Number 78 of 2021 concerning the establishment of BRIN, it is stated that the Chairperson of the BRIN Steering Committee is ex-officio based on elements of the Steering Committee of the body which carries out government duties in the field of fostering the Pancasila ideology, in this case the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri who is also the General Chair of the PDI-Perjuangan.

"If you want to be involved in politics since 2.5 years ago, if it's too late now. After all, the terms of office (Directoring Board) are not Bu Mega, but ex-officio Head of BPIP, there are also EX-officio ministries of finance, so we will not be affected," added Handoko.

In the same rule mentioned In carrying out its duties and functions, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee is assisted by a special staff who is ex-officio and is not ex-officio, which amounts to a maximum of four people.

For the position of Deputy Chair, according to Article 7 paragraph (5), it is held in an ex-officio manner by the minister who organizes government affairs in the financial sector and the minister who organizes government affairs in the field of national development planning.

"And I assure all candidates to support BRIN. The reason is that they have made an open statement. Isn't there a fuss about the politics all this time, right?" said Handoko.

The BRIN Steering Committee is Megawati Soekarnoputri (Chairman) Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency Suharso Monoarfa (each deputy chairman), Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo Soenjoto as secretary and member namely Emil Salim, I Gede Wenten, Bambang Kesowo, Adi Utarini, Marsudi Wahyu Kisworo and Tri Mumpuni.