English Language Oath Makes The Deputy Speaker Of The House Of Representatives Walk Out Of The Inauguration Of The UPI Chancellor, Observer: Right As Commitment To Enforce The Rules

PHOTO via Instagram @debinsyamsurijal

Political Communication Observer Ari Junaedi highlighted the steps taken by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal to leave the inauguration procession of the Chancellor of the Indonesian University of Education (UPI) in Bandung, West Java, because taking the oath of office was carried out using English.

According to Ari Junaedi, the action of walking out of the leadership of the DPR is a form of protest against the implementation of official events that do not use Indonesian.

"I agree with the way the Deputy Speaker of the DPR left the procession as a commitment of all parties to enforce rules that respect the use of language, symbols and symbols of the state," said Ari Junaedi, Tuesday, June 17.

Ari said that the DPR as a legislative institution does not only function as a maker of laws, but also as a guardian of values and national symbols. Therefore, he considered Cucun's steps as firmness.

"In the context of maintaining nationalism, the DPR is not only a legislative institution, but also a national moral guard. The steps taken by the Deputy Speaker of the DPR to leave the UPI event are correct, this is a concrete form of the control function of educational institutions that are starting to ignore the symbols and identities of the state," he explained.

Ari is of the view that the inauguration procession using English is an act of humiliation and reflects the denial of identity as a national higher education institution.

"The ranks of UPI leaders should not be ashamed to study at public schools in Cimahi or Bandung about how to place flags, languages, national symbols and national anthems in official state events," said Ari.

Ari also suggested that educators who do not understand the values of nationalism need special training, such as being brought to the military barracks the idea of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi.

"Supposedly people like that, educators who are confident with nationalism should be targeted by KDM (Kang Dedi Mulyadi) to be sent to the military barracks so that they are taught the meaning of nationalism again," he said.

In order for similar incidents not to happen again, Ari asked the DPR through Commission X to summon the leadership of UPI and other universities. According to him, the leadership of UPI must improve themselves after the procession of the inauguration of the rector received protests from the leadership of the DPR.

"The incident at UPI must be the last time and so tarnishing the dignity of education. The leadership of UPI should immediately improve after the firm attitude of the leadership of the DPR. Don't underestimate symbolic messages like this," he concluded.

Previously, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal admitted that he could not accept the rector's inauguration procession using English. Cucun himself is the leader of the DPR, the coordinator of the People's Welfare Sector (Korbid Kesra), one of whose duties is related to education.

"I cannot accept the oath of office of the Chancellor in Indonesian educational institutions carried out in foreign languages. This is clearly contrary to Law Number 24 of 2009 which stipulates that Indonesian must be used in the oath of office in the official state environment," said Cucun, Monday, June 16.

Cucun also asked the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) to evaluate the incident and provide guidance to UPI.

"There should no longer be educational institutions that prioritize Indonesian in official forums. We can be international, but we must not sacrifice national identity," he said.