Ups! Doctor Bahlil's Degree, Becomes A National Scandal

Photo By Andry Winarko (VOI)

JAKARTA - Giving a doctorate to the General Chair of the Golkar Party, who is also the minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia caused a polemic, because he was doubted and judged to have violated academic ethics. Apart from legitimacy, the process is considered odd. Bahlil Lahadalia was declared to have passed with a doctorate in just 1 year 8 months or 3 semesters with cum laude predicate.

Whereas generally a doctoral degree program is needed for 6 semesters to get a doctorate. The studyload of the Doctoral Program consists of 48-52 SKS which are scheduled for 6 semesters and can be reached for at least 4 semesters, or a maximum of 10 semesters. Ironically, the awarding of a prestigious academic degree for Bahlil Lahadalia was questioned by many parties.

Bahlil's title was given after he attended a doctoral program at the Institute's Global Stratejik Study School (SKSG) under the University of Indonesia, which was intended for doctoral students who wanted to pursue education on a fast path. Bahlil himself, taking the path of research he did not need to study in class, he only needed to make 3 papers published inputated journals. The condition is 1 paper in an international journal and 2 national journals, before being required to make a dissertation.

"By only issuing Journals, it does not mean it is easier than following a number of courses in class. In the academic world, it is known that 2 types of journals, journals with deputies and fake journals are commonly called Predator's journals. To be published in a predatorous journal, journal quality does not need to be high, the important thing is that writers are willing to pay millions of rupiah to journal managers. " said Ade Armando, UI lecturers and alumni commenting on Bahlil's graduation as a doctor, on the Cokro channel.

In the past, cases like this were common, but recently educational institutions in Indonesia, including UI, had their control tightened. Scientific articles can only be published in well-puted journals. Journals like this have strict editors who only receive quality articles. "For international journals, they even have cross-border editors," said Armando.

However, in short, when Bahlil studied for less than 2 years, it was considered too fast. According to UI's own rules, doctoral program students must at least spend 2 years studying until they are finally allowed to prepare a dissertation and doctoral candidate testing hearing. "The time of 1 year and 8 months is considered too fast," said Armando again.

So that various accusations emerged, including Bahlil allegedly paying the leadership of UI, there were also those who accused the dissertation of being prepared by paid jockeys. Bahlil's dissertation was even curated or accused of being the result of plagiarism from the thesis of UIN students.

The problem became more complicated following a statement from Jatam who objected to the inclusion of his name as an informant for Bahlil's dissertation. Because he did not feel that he was providing information to Bahlil. Admittedly, his party was visited by a researcher named Ismi Azkia who claimed to be from the UI Demographic Research Institute. However, when confirmed whether his interview was for Bahlil's research, there was no clear explanation from Ismi. Ismi actually gave a contact number of someone who was unclear. So Jatam then sent a letter to UI, expressing his objection to the inclusion of his institution's name in Bahlil's dissertation.

"We have never given approval to become informants in Bahlil's dissertation," wrote Jatam National Coordinator, Melky Nahar, in an objection letter to UI.

In fact, many lecturers and alumni admit that they are ashamed of what happened. The University of Indonesia has been known as an institution that strictly maintains academy traditions, but easily passes someone like Bahlil, causing a lot of confusion. The UI Fisip Alumni also made a petition sent to the rector, they urged the chancellor to review the granting of the doctor to Bahlil.

We hope that the UI whose institutions have been tarnished will reportedly have formed an investigative team to examine the validity of the awarding of the title for Bahlil. The decision of the professor council to finally postpone the awarding of Bahril's title as a doctor, including the inclusion and use of the title behind his name.

After suspending the Bahlil title, UI also apologized. His party will hold an ethics session, taking a number of rare ones both academically and ethically. Even related to the case also has an impact on requests for audits and governance of SKSG before the acceptance of new students from the Stratejik Global Study School as a commitment to maintaining quality.

Many Defend Bahlil

However, a number of names involved in the Bahlil testing process, kekeh stated that the test was in accordance with the provisions and conditions. Teguh Dartanto Phd, for example, the Dean of FEB UI, as the promoter of the Bahlil trial, Teguh, from the start also warned Bahlil, that this study is not just what you did. Because Bahlil at that time was in a policy maker or policymaker position.

Teguh admitted that his party, which initially directed Bahlil to take the Global Stratejik Study School (SKSG). At that time, Bahlil asked whether there was a proper study on downstreaming and social impacts for the community, he directed the school because there was multidisciplinary.

As his promoter, he also asked Bahlil with all his time constraints to go to the field to see firsthand the downstream conditions of nickel in Morowali. "I want to make sure because as an official, don't just go away. As an official Bahlil, people are always escorted by security, I asked at that time not to be accompanied by security so that they can interact and interview with the public, and get direct data, not just interviews, as well as satellite image data." Teguh said when asked by Rhenald Kasali through his podcast

Teguh also admitted to encouraging Bahlil to conduct interviews with outside exports such as with Dani Rodik from Harvard University as his "mbah" industrialization, as well as Ha Joon Chang from SOAS London University, and Justin Yifu Lin from Peaking University to see how downstreaming experiences in China and in Korea.

A similar testimony was also made by Athor Subroto, PHD as Director of SKSG and co promoter of the Bahlil trial. According to him, Bahlil had passed 3 seminars as a condition before submitting a dissertation drafting proposal. A similar confession was also conveyed by the chairman of the Bahlil Session, namely Prof. I Ketut Surajaya as Chair of the Japanese Regional Study Study Study Study Program.

One of the examiners, Prof. Arif Satria, also said that Bahlil's testing had been carried out accordingly. Because before testing his party had confirmed various public doubts, including the issue of journal issuance, regarding the study period "But after being confirmed to the leadership, all of them are ok, so it's gone," he said.

Arif admitted that he was interested in the findings of Bahlil, downstreaming had a bad and very bad impact on the environment, which is an important point in Bahlil's research. entitled: Policies and downstream management of nickel that are just and sustainable in Indonesia.

A similar confession was also conveyed by Prof. Dr. Chandra Wijaya, as another promoter of Bahlil, admitted that he was amazed by the agility of his students, according to him, in the midst of his busy schedule, he could arrange time, including interviews with experts between Rodriguez, the originator of the theory of "building countries". "Even in the midst of busy life, he can arrange time, and if he is guided, he wants to come to my place". added Chandra, who is reportedly one of the independent commissioners in a company affiliated with Bahlil.

However, Rocky Gerung saw the end of the polemic of Bahlil's doctoral scandal, which was a matter of political interest. Judging from the statement by the chairman of the MWA (Majelis Wali Amanat) Yahya Staquf who stated that the Bahlil title was not canceled, it was only postponed until December to fulfill the 4 semesters. So the issue has moved from academic to political issues.

"In fact, from the start these UI professors wanted to test the way Bahlil maintained his dissertation and the way the examiner passed his dissertation," said Rocky while talking to Harsubeno Arif. But now we see how UI is torn apart by exchange of interest.

We already suspect that there is a kind of movement to save Bahlil. MWA is suspected of having an interest in securing Bahlil's position in Golkar and ESDM so as not to falter, which would threaten Bahlil's political promise to divide the mining sustenance into cancellation. Not for the sake of academic glory but for the sake of business and political gains that will be lost if Bahlil does not survive this case.

So that it is not only Bahlil who is to blame but also UI who is to blame, we see how UI is persuaded and suppressed in the midst of his rector who comes from an additional exchange result and sponsored by Politics.