Indonesia

According to Indonesian academics, concerns about political interference in research appear to have been voiced by the Indonesian research and innovation agency BRIN, according to Echo Nor Cristiano, a researcher who sued the Constitutional Court for justice at a new research institute. , was expelled from the trial.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo co-chaired the new BRIN Steering Committee with senior politician Megawati Sukarnoputri last week.

Echo Nor Cristiano, who works at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and Heru Socetio, a member of the Jakarta Research Council and researcher and assistant professor at the Indonesian Law School, have jointly called for a review by the Constitutional Court. Law No. 11 of 2019 on the National Science and Technology Organization became the basis for the establishment of BRIN to integrate research organizations.

Indonesian acronym for national research and innovation – They specifically compete with the definition of the word “integrated” which they believe is being misinterpreted by the government in order to break up the country’s four main research funding systems and bring them together. society

Brin was established under the 2019 Act to replace the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), the National Atomic Energy Agency, the Indonesian National Aerospace Agency, and the Institute for the Assessment and Application of Technology.

“I don’t know about the dynamics in his ministry (Ministry of Justice and Human Rights), but Echo knows he’s under pressure,” said Mulyando (name), a member of the Justice and Welfare Legislator after Cristiano Ronaldo. The evictions became known at a court hearing last month.

“This is a setback for the rule of law and democracy in Indonesia,” Mullando told reporters on September 24 in Jakarta.

But despite widespread opposition to BRIN in the academic world, President Joko Widodo set up a new BRIN Steering Committee on October 13, led by senior politician Megawati Sukarnobutri. Megawati is the chair of the Panchsila Ideology Development Agency (PPIP) and the chair of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI-B).

His appointment to the executive staff made scientists and scholars fear the politicization of research.

The current vice-presidents are Finance Minister Shri Mulyani Indirawati and National Development Minister Suharso Monorba, who is also a businessman and politician.

Chancellor Azumardi Azra from Sayarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta described the newly formed steering committee as a “disaster” for Indonesian research and science.

“Research institutes have to be run by a scientist. Not just a scientist, but also a credible and respected scientist, ”said Azra. University world news.

First trial before the Constitutional Court

The government version of the research organization states that the original case caused confusion and frustration among many researchers who work for that organization. It defines “integration”, “growth” and “co-planning”.

However, at the hearing on September 21 in the Constitutional Court, Judge Annie Narbinsingh and the Salty Isra jury and Daniel Yusmik Bonstoki Fok began reading the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wasis Susettio, who had withdrawn from his client’s case.

“I am no longer a researcher in the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, so I cannot sue in this case now. I have no legal position before this court, “said Cristiano in a statement.

Heru Socetio will sue Cristiano Ronaldo. “Science and technology are at stake under a centrist organization like BRIN. This new research institute will represent bureaucracies and small bureaucracies that are slowing down research and innovation, “Sussetio said in a statement from his attorney in court on Sept. 21. Listen.

Sussetio argued that allowing this integration could affect his work as an independent researcher, and expressed concerns that BRIN could determine what research is important to the country.

He predicted that BRIN’s top-down hierarchy would lead to instruction from the top rather than increasing motivation and innovation from the bottom up.

Brin will have a regional office but will focus more on research proposals and initiatives, he said.

Legislator Mullando recently described BRIN as a centralized body that was previously a function of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, with policy formulation and completion, policy implementation coordination, and policy monitoring and evaluation at central and regional levels. .

In addition, BRIN applies to all areas from research, development, evaluation and innovation through technological innovation to social and political science, previously under non-ministerial government agencies and semi-autonomous research and development institutions. .

Mullando described the integration of science and technology institutions under BRIN as a “strong challenge”. “If it doesn’t work, Indonesia’s innovation performance will continue to decline,” he said to the parliamentary committee on October 12th.

Focus on the steering committee

The establishment of the BRIN Steering Committee earlier this month drew attention to the lack of scientific and research literacy among some of its members, including Vice Chairman Megawati.

One of the richest men in Indonesia, Sudamek Agong Vaspoto Soyanjoto, was its secretary. When Megawati was Executive Deputy at PPIP, she was chairman of BT Garudafoot, the head of a large food company in Indonesia.

Another member is Pambang Kosovo, former Foreign Minister and Head of the State Secretariat. As a PDI-P politician, Kosovo is considered close to Megawati, but she also has extensive knowledge of the intellectual property that Indonesia represented in negotiations at the United Nations and the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva.

Other team members:

Emil Saleem, economics professor, is known as an environmentalist;

GI Gede Wenten, Professor of Chemical Technology at the Bandung Institute of Technology with 15 patents for membrane technology;

Adi Udharini, Professor of Public Health in Dengue Control at Katja Mada University, Yogyakarta;

Marzudi Wahu Kisworo is an officer at the state-owned PT Telcom Indonesia, professor of computer science and president of the Indonesian professional association; and

Tri Mumbuni is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist who has created and promoted micro-hydroelectric power plants in Indonesian villages.

Regarding the BRIN sequence, Azra said, “Megawati knows nothing about science and research. But worst of all, President Djokovic believes that research and science should remain under their control [non-scientists’] Steering. “

He said Megawati did not do much during her time at BPIP, “her domain, so how can she believe she will do well in an area that does not exist in her domain?”

Asra gave an example to several members of the Steering Committee: “Politicians and officials have no experience in research and innovation. Only three scientists, including Emil Saleem, are famous scientists, but they are already 91 years old.

He feared Djokovic and Megawati would be afraid to promote their ideological and political agenda, as did BRIN at BPIP.

Azra said there was no reason to be optimistic about BRIN, but the new research firm believed it wasn’t important for advancing research and science. “President Djokovic still has two years.

More “freedom” for researchers

Not all researchers are skeptical. Fathi Royani, a biologist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), now affiliated with BRIN, said BRIN could create a better environment for research and innovation in Indonesia.

“I know some people are not satisfied with BRIN, but I prefer to look on the positive side: BRIN can make Indonesian researchers, academics and professors more independent,” said Rayani. University world news.

Not only can they rely on government research institutes and universities, but they can also seek funding for their research projects elsewhere, including international research institutes and foreign institutions, he said.

“My genetic research colleague is still writing his research project. But many companies are waiting for his suggestions and ready to fund his research because of his reputation and cutting-edge inventions. So he will bring his own funds for his research and his laboratories, ”said Rayani.

“I’m sorry to say that most of our researchers and professors are spoiled. They do not research and earn high salaries, performance-related fees and other perks.

One professor and researcher said he could make ITR 60 million ($ 4,240) a month without doing research. “Those who are interested in BRIN are the ones who enjoy the fun,” added Royani.