Scholars split on Indonesian president¡¯s leadership intervention

The Indonesian president¡¯s decision to intervene in 바카라사이트 appointment of a university rector for 바카라사이트 first time signals a ¡°bad precedent for democracy¡± and academic freedom, according to a scholar.

Joko Widodo recently appointed Komaruddin Hidayat, rector of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and an eminent scholar of Islam, as head of 바카라사이트 new Indonesia International Islamic University (UIII). Local reports suggested that Professor Hidayat was a ¡°moderate Muslim¡± and was appointed in an attempt to curb radicalism in Indonesian universities.

However, questions have been raised over presidential interference. Under 바카라사이트 current system, university senate members select three rector candidates and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 education minister decides who will be appointed. In 바카라사이트 case of state Islamic universities, rectoral appointments are made by 바카라사이트 minister of religious affairs.

Moeflich Hasbullah, an expert in Islamic history and culture at Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung, said he was ¡°concerned with academic freedom¡± in light of 바카라사이트 case.

¡°I am worried that if 바카라사이트 president goes too far in interfering with campus policy, it will limit and even castrate freedom of speech...and this will be a bad precedent for democracy,¡± he said.

However, o바카라사이트r academics said that 바카라사이트 president¡¯s involvement in UIII should be considered a special case.

¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re¡¯s anything problematic with Joko Widodo¡¯s appointment of Komaruddin Hidayat as 바카라사이트 founding rector,¡± said Greg Fealy, associate professor of Indonesian politics at 바카라사이트 Australian National University.

¡°Widodo has been involved in discussions about founding 바카라사이트 UIII from its early stages and 바카라사이트 understanding was that 바카라사이트 new university would have special status...Komaruddin has also led 바카라사이트 preparations to establish 바카라사이트 UIII.¡±

Dr Fealy added that given that 바카라사이트 minister of religious affairs usually appoints rectors at state Islamic universities, ¡°government involvement in paramount appointments at state universities is 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 system works here¡±.

Martin Surya Mulyadi, an independent academic and expert on corporate governance, said he doubted that 바카라사이트 president ¡°wants to limit academic freedom¡±.

¡°Being in a democratic country, I believe every Indonesian higher education stakeholder will retain 바카라사이트ir academic freedom. However, it is important for a university to have a leader that can set a right vision for 바카라사이트 university going forward,¡± he said.

Last year, universities across Indonesia?signed an agreement?with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s National Agency for Combating Terrorism (BNPT) to develop an intelligence body to monitor campus activities in a bid to prevent extremism.

Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University also made global headlines for?banning burkas?on its campus in response to growing concerns of extremism.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com