TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Bung Karno University (UBK) has alleged that student leaders received a Rp20 million payment ahead of a demonstration held in Jakarta earlier this month, with university officials claiming the money was delivered through police intermediaries.
Daniel Panda, UBK's Vice Rector III, said the payment was intended for members of the university's Student Executive Board (BEM), particularly representatives from the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics, who were preparing to stage a protest titled "Restructuring Indonesia" on June 15.
"The chairperson of the UBK Faculty of Law Student Executive Board, Mr. Abdi, admitted to receiving Rp20 million from a senior alumnus, which was handed over through the police," Daniel told reporters at the UBK campus in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
According to Daniel, the admission emerged during an internal inquiry conducted by the university's rectorate involving Muhammad Abdimaludin, the chairman of BEM Faculty of Law UBK.
Alleged Attempt to Relocate Protest
Daniel said the payment was allegedly offered by a law faculty alumnus who asked student organizers not to stage their demonstration at the State Palace.
Under the proposal, BEM UBK would receive Rp20 million if it agreed to move the protest to the area in front of the parliamentary complex, which houses the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
"The proposal was rejected, and the students still proceeded with the demonstration toward the State Palace. However, the money was reportedly accepted," Daniel said.
The allegation gained wider attention after a video circulated on social media showing Abdimaludin acknowledging that he had received the money in connection with the demonstration.
Distribution of Funds
Daniel said Abdimaludin admitted that the funds were used for personal purposes and distributed among several individuals, including alumni and student leaders.
In the video, Abdimaludin described how the money was allocated.
"Rp2.5 million went to two alumni, Rp2 million to my deputy, Rp2 million to Mubarak, and Rp2 million to BEM FE UBK," he said.
The university has not publicly disclosed whether any disciplinary measures will be taken against those involved.
Meeting With Vice President Gibran
The "Restructuring Indonesia" demonstration was followed by a closed-door meeting between UBK student representatives and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The meeting took place at the Vice Presidential Palace and involved 15 student representatives from UBK. According to the students, the discussion lasted around one hour and covered several policy issues, including the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and the Red and White Village Cooperative initiative.
"The Vice President took note of our demands, including the need to evaluate and address various problems in current government programs, such as the Free Nutritious Meals program and the Red and White Village Cooperative," Abdimaludin said after the meeting on June 15.
He also warned that BEM UBK would continue organizing demonstrations if its demands were not addressed within five days.
Abdimaludin said the student group was prepared to hold further protests should the government fail to respond to the issues raised during the meeting.
Read: Palace Probes Alleged Payoffs to UBK Student Leaders After Protest
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