Jokowi's Style Of Dismissing Allegations Of Fake Diplomas Through The 80 FK UGM Force Reunion

YOGYAKARTA - 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke about allegations of fake diplomas at the 45th reunion of the 80th Force of the Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta.

When asked to deliver his speech, Jokowi immediately joked satirely about the issue of his diploma which recently surfaced.

"Regarding nostalgia, I see everyone is happy. But don't be happy first, you know because my diploma is still in doubt," Jokowi said to laughter from his alumnus as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, July 26.

He asked his friends to be vigilant because if his diploma was proven to be fake, the entire force could also be affected.

"Be careful later decisions in court. As soon as the decision is original, ladies and gentlemen, you can have fun. But that's not it, 88 (alumni) were also hit," he joked.

Jokowi admitted that he was surprised by the accusations that he considered unreasonable considering his struggle to go through the entire college process at that time.

"I sometimes shake this too, sometimes it doesn't make sense. But yes, it happened as we saw it. We study difficult. But if I pass, all of them. Graduate, continue to graduate," he said.

Jokowi also mentioned his old friend, Jambro Sasongko, who had repeatedly repeated his mathematical courses.

With a joking tone, according to Jokowi, he never repeated the course of Jambro's behavior so it doesn't make sense if his diploma is now being questioned.

"What Mr. Jambro doubts is permissible. The mathematics continues to repeat itself. I never repeat it," said Jokowi.

According to him, the accusations addressed to him are increasingly unreasonable because they continue to change their focus, from diploma to thesis and then switch to KKN program.

"Once the diploma is difficult, look for the fault, turn into the thesis. The script is also (considered) fake. Change to KKN again. This is from a diploma to running to a thesis, running to the KKN. The KKN was visited there," he said.

Jokowi said his thesis supervisors were Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Sumitro, while the examiners were Ranu Gede and Ir. Sofyan Wasito.

He also still clearly remembers the location of the KKN he lived with students across faculties in Boyolali, Central Java.

"I remember the KKN in Ketoyan Village, Wonosegoro District, Boyolali Regency. My friends also remember me. From the Faculty of Law there was a name from Mrs. Yohana at that time, from the Faculty of Biology there was Mrs. Rica, and from Geodesic Engineering there was something called Eko," he said.

Not only that, he also admitted that he had been complained to the police because he was considered to have lied to the public when he mentioned Ir. Kasmujo as his supervisor.

In fact, according to him, Ir. Kasmujo actually guided him while studying at the Faculty of Forestry UGM, even after graduating he still visited his wood factory several times to help solve a number of technical problems.

"He mementori bagian produksi di pabrik yang saya miliki. Sampai ketikapun saya akan menyampaikan, Pak Kasmujo itu pengajaran saya. Karena memang lecturer pengawal saya," ujar Jokowi.

Closing his remarks, Jokowi admitted that his health condition had not yet recovered properly.

"I'm actually not 100 percent (health) in condition. For the past three months it's still recovering," he said.

However, he was forced to attend the class reunion so that the accusation about the fake diploma against him did not widen.

"When Mr. Bambang visited (asked) 'did you come?' This is if (I) don't come, the fakes don't add anywhere," said Jokowi, greeted by laughter from his colleagues.

"I forced this to come really. Imagine if I didn't come. Later 67 people will gather everyone, where is Jokowi? It will be crowded again later," Jokowi continued.