Prabowo Urges Gibran to Fight Academic Credential Dispute in Court, Coordinate Supreme Court Review

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka revealed that President Prabowo Subianto has advised him to mount a vigorous legal defense over his educational credentials, instructing him to fight ongoing challenges before the administrative court and produce complete academic documentation spanning from elementary school through university.

Speaking at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, Gibran shared the counsel he received during an extensive morning meeting with the head of state at the Presidential Palace complex. The discussion followed Gibran's offer to tender his resignation earlier in the day amid mounting judicial and parliamentary pressure regarding the legitimacy of his high school equivalence certificate.

"As our colleagues in the media are aware, I met with the President this morning," Gibran said. "The President has been like a father to me. He provided a great deal of advice and input regarding the dynamics currently unfolding."

Legal Battle at Administrative Court

Gibran stated that the head of state specifically urged him to continue his legal fight before the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN), where proceedings regarding his equivalence documentation remain active.

"One of his pieces of advice was for me to continue to fight at the PTUN by presenting all documents from elementary school through bachelor's degree level," Gibran told reporters at the Vice Presidential Palace.

Beyond the administrative court proceedings, Prabowo suggested that Gibran work in close coordination with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) to pursue an extraordinary legal remedy. Specifically, the president advised filing a petition for Judicial Review with the Supreme Court (MA) to contest the cassation ruling that voided the administrative decree recognizing his secondary educational equivalence. Because the ministry was the primary defendant in the initial administrative dispute, formal standing to lodge the judicial review rests with the government department.

"And also to coordinate with Dikdasmen to submit a judicial review at the Supreme Court," Gibran added.

De-escalating Prolonged Political Strains

Addressing the broader national controversy, Gibran emphasized his respect for public scrutiny and stated that he is determined to keep the controversy from paralyzing the government.

"I respect all aspirations, criticisms, and advice from the public regarding the dynamics currently taking place," Gibran said. "I do not want the current dynamics to become a prolonged political polemic."

The vice president's public comments come hours after palace officials confirmed that while Gibran had offered to resign during morning talks, President Prabowo did not reject the gesture outright but instead provided guidance on navigating the legal and constitutional processes. The defense strategy unfolds as lawmakers in the House of Representatives (DPR) evaluate an inquiry petition backed by nearly 50 members seeking to invoke parliament's Right to Express an Opinion (HMP).