Denied By The Chancellor Of UGM, Dean And Alumni, Jokowi's Allegations Of Fake Diplomas Failed In Total

JAKARTA - Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta confirmed that President Joko Widodo's diploma and thesis (Jokowi) were genuine. This is in response to allegations made by the former lecturer at Mataram University, Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar.

Rismon doubts the authenticity of the document citing the use of the New Roman Times' font on its thesis cover and ratification sheet, which he said was not yet available in the 1980s to 1990s. This statement sparked debate on social media, in which some accepted the claim, while others are still questioning it.

The Chancellor of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Prof. Ova Emilia emphasized the authenticity of President Joko Widodo's diploma as a graduate of the Faculty of Forestry UGM.

"Based on the data and information we have, and well documented, we believe in the authenticity of Ir's undergraduate diploma (S1). Joko Widodo and the person concerned are indeed graduates of the Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University," said Ova Emilia in a UGM release last Tuesday, April 11.

President Jokowi, said Ova, was listed as an alumni of the S1 Study Program at the Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University in the 1980s class.

"It was declared that he passed the UGM in 1985 according to the provisions and proof of graduation based on the documents we have," he said.

According to Ova, he conveyed clarification as a form of UGM's responsibility as an institution that provides higher education to its alumni.

"Our responsibility is to provide clarification to the public. So it means that it is not because the question is the number one person, it is not that. For example, there are alumni who want to be verified, so we will also take verification steps according to the proportion," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the writing format on Jokowi's diploma which was considered different from other UGM alumnus diplomas, Ova explained that at that time there was no uniformity of the format and still used fine writing.

"Using a smooth write and it seems that at that time there was no uniformity, for example, if now in Dikti there is a special format so sometimes there is a difference between one another. But we still have archival documents from it," he said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Forestry UGM Sigit Sunarta also confirmed that Joko Widodo's diploma was in accordance with the diploma format of the Faculty of Forestry UGM at that time.

"We have tried to see the format of the diploma that Mr. Jokowi received with one class friend who graduated at the same time, exactly the format of the Faculty of Forestry with smooth handwriting. For other faculties we do not know for sure, but at the Faculty of Forestry such a uniform," said Sigit Sunarta.

Responding to the issue of using the New Roman Times, Sigit explained that in the 1980s to 1990s, UGM students were common in using the font or the same type of letter, especially to print covers and ratification sheets at printing stations around campus.

"The fact that there is a printing machine in Sanur and Prima should also be known to the person concerned because he is also studying at UGM," he said.

He also emphasized that the entire content of Joko Widodo's thesis, which is 91 pages thick, was typed using a type machine, while the cover and validation sheet were printed in a printing press, as was the general practice of students at that time.

The Senate Chair of the UGM Forestry Faculty, San Afri Awang, also denied the allegations and shared his experiences.

"I still remember when I made a cover (scription), running to Prima. At that time there was already a well-known cover print, Prima and Sanur," he said.

He also mentioned that typing services using IBM PC computers were already available around UGM at that time.

Regarding the diploma series number which is called different from the standard format, Sigit emphasized that at that time, the Faculty of Forestry UGM had its own policy in the diploma numbering system.

"The number is based on the sequence of student identification numbers that are passed and added by FKT, abbreviating from the faculty name," he explained.

Frono Siwo, Jokowi's colleague at the Faculty of Forestry, UGM, confirmed that their diploma format was the same, including the signatures of the Chancellor of Prof. T Jacob and Dean of Prof. Soenardi Prawirohatmodjo.

My certificate can be compared to Pak Jokowi's diploma. Everything is the same except for the graduation number," he said.

Frono also remembers Jokowi's figure as a quiet student, but humorous when he gathered with his friends.

"Pak Jokowi is quiet, but when he talks he's always funny, what's being discussed always invites laughter," he recalls.

In addition, he confirmed that Jokowi likes to climb mountains and had worked with him at PT Kertas Kraft Aceh (Persero) after graduating. However, the former governor of Jakarta only worked for two years because his wife, Iriana Jokowi, did not feel at home living in the middle of a pine forest in Central Aceh.

UGM Criminal Law Professor, Marcus Priyo Gunarto, assessed that the allegations against Jokowi should be supported by clear legal evidence.