Prevent Recipient New Student Revenue In Recurrence, KPK Asks The Ministry Of Education And Technology To Audit

Illustration of the KPK's Red and White Building in Jakarta. (Doc VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) to audit state universities, especially regarding the acceptance of new students on an independent route. This step is believed to prevent the practice of bribery.

This was conveyed by the KPK at a coordination meeting with the Ministry of Education and Culture on Friday, August 26. There were four recommendations given by the anti-corruption commission at that time, the first was to conduct an audit.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Prevention Ipi Maryati said this audit could cooperate with other parties, namely the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

"The Ministry of Education and Culture conducts a limited audit quickly for state universities to map weaknesses in the process of accepting new students through independent channels," said Ipi in a written statement, Monday, August 29.

The second step, the Ministry of Education and Culture is asked to make guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability of the new students' admission process through independent hands.

In it, said Ipi, information is made about the number of seats and quotas; indicators for determining graduation to the certainty of the academic selection to be carried out.

Third, the process of accepting new students at state universities through independent channels is requested to be carried out digitally. "Digitalization in a series of new student admission processes will provide more certainty, transparency and acceleration," explained Ipi.

"And the fourth strengthens supervision and encourages the involvement of community participation to submit reports through complaint channels, both managed by the Ministry of Education and Culture and through the JAGA Campus platform managed by the KPK," he continued.

In addition, the KPK also assesses the need for stronger regulations related to accepting new students through independent channels. So that in the future, this process will not be littered with bribery practices.

"Especially for the faculties that are the goals of the majority of society such as medicine, engineering, economy, and others," said Ipi.

As previously reported, the KPK has named four suspects for alleged bribery in accepting new students at the University of Lampung in 2022. The determination of this suspect began with a hand arrest operation carried out in Lampung, Bandung, and Bali.

The suspects involved in this case are the Chancellor of Lampung University 2020-2024 Karomani; Deputy Chancellor I for Academics at Lampung University Heryandi; Chair of the Lampung University Senate Muhammad Basri; and private Andi Desfiandi.

In this case, Karomani is suspected of setting a price for prospective new students on his campus with a range of Rp. 100 million to Rp. 350 million when carrying out the Selection of Independent Entering the University of Lampung (Simanila). This request was made after Heryandi and Muhammad Basri personally selected the ability of parents to pay.

From his actions, Karomani allegedly managed to collect Rp603 million from a lecturer named Mualimin. Furthermore, he used the money he received for personal purposes of Rp575 million.

Meanwhile, from Muhammad Basri and Budi Sutomo, who are the Head of the Planning and Public Relations Bureau of Lampung University, it is suspected that the total money received by Karomani reached Rp4.4 billion. This money was then transferred to deposit savings, gold bars, and some were still in cash.