Minister Satryo Brodjonegoro's Case: Leadership Arrogance Against Evidence Of Feodal's Attitude Is Still Lasting

JAKARTA Ubaid Matraji from the Coordinator of the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) said the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) looked battered and overwhelmed at the beginning of his tenure. Recently, the Minister of Education and Technology, Satryo Brodjonegoro, was demonstrated by his own subordinates after being suspected of committing violence.

Earlier this week, on Monday (20/1/2025), the public was shocked by the news of a demonstration at the Ministry of Education and Technology Office. It is a concern for the wider community because the demonstrators are ASN in the ministry.

From the videos and photos circulating widely in social media, hundreds of demonstrators were seen wearing black suits. They protested and sang national songs. In addition, they also shouted lawan! and 'go down, go down, go down' in the action.

A number of bouquets of flowers and banners containing protests against the Minister of Education and Technology, Satryo, were also unfurled. One of the banners was written 'State Institution, Not Personal Company, Satryo and Wife!'.

According to a number of sources, as many as 235 people who demonstrated were employees of the ministry themselves. They are members of the ASN extended family of the Ditjen Dikti Employee Association.

Hundreds of employees decided to protest in response to the news of the unfair dismissal experienced by Prahum Ahli Muda & Pj. Rumah Tangga Kemendiktisiantek, Neni Herlina.

According to the Chairman of the Dikti Employee Association, Suwitno, the actions of hundreds of employees were a form of disappointment with the decision to dismiss Neni, he said, the Ministry of Education and Technology should carry out clear procedures in following up on employees who are considered to have made mistakes so as not to be treated arbitrarily.

"If an employee makes a mistake, it can be followed up with disciplinary punishment. (But) the procedure must be clear. This was not done at all. In fact, he was expelled and dismissed," said Suwitno.

At the same time, the public was also presented with voice recordings which were claimed to be the voice of Satryo who was angry. In the three-minute recording, a man's voice was heard scolding his employees in a high tone and saying harsh sentences. He said, Satryo was angry because the water tap in his official house died.

Not wanting negative news about him to get out, Minister Satryo held a dialogue with the employees who demonstrated on Monday (20/1) night at his official residence in Widya Chandra, South Jakarta.

In a press conference after the meeting, Satryo denied dismissing an employee of the Ministry of Education and Technology. He explained that what he did was mutase and rotation which was commonplace in an agency or ministry.

"To clarify and I have also conveyed to the person concerned [Neni], the ministry has never fired anyone. There is, the government, the ministry is holding mutations or rotations," said Satryo, as reported by Antara.

The chaos of dismissal which was said to be not in accordance with the rules experienced by Neni seemed to add to the problems within the Ministry of Education and Technology. Not long ago, the agency was also bombarded with flower bouquets sent by lecturers.

They demand the right to pay performance allowances (tukin). Previously, the Ministry of Education and Technology said there was no Tukin budget for ASN lecturers in 2025.

The right of tukin for ASN lecturers has actually been regulated through the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 49 of 2020. However, entering the fifth year since the regulation was passed, lecturers have not received any tukin rights at all.

JPPI National Coordinator Ubaid Matraji assessed that the protests by Ministry of Education and Technology employees were surprising. Moreover, previously there was also an action by a lecturer at the Ministry of Education and Technology who demanded payment for tukin.

According to Ubaid, the internal and external problems made Kemediktikaintel look battered and overwhelmed at the beginning of its tenure.

As a new ministry in the Red and White Cabinet, the Ministry of Education and Technology should focus on fixing the affairs of the welfare rights of urgent lecturers, not even focusing on internal issues.

"So, swinging between fulfilling campaign promises with basic needs that must be met starting from salary, allowances, and so on. It becomes very troublesome," said Ubaid.

The issue of arrogance and communication of a minister, according to Ubaid, is a serious problem. Not only because of Satryo Brodjonegoro's position as a public official, but he is also known as a Professor who should uphold professional ethics.

"There is also a code of ethics for high-ranking state officials who should prioritize professionalism for their employees," said Ubaid.

"So he can't perpetuate a very, very dangerous feudal mind. As if, the minister was the king and then his employees were just like babu who could be treated arbitrarily," he added.

According to Ubaid, all higher education affairs in Indonesia cannot be completed if the ministry's leaders are still feudal. Moreover, at this time the Ministry of Education and Technology is required to fix the welfare of ASN lecturers, the high cost of universities, to academic integrity.

"How can the minister fix this if he views the employees of his own agency," said Ubaid asserted.