Mahfud MD Highlights UBK Student's Admission of Receiving Rp20 Million
YOGYAKARTA – Headline24.id – Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD, expressed his concern over the confession of the Head of the Student Executive Body (BEM) of the Faculty of Law at Bung Karno University (UBK), Muhammad Abdimaludin, who admitted to receiving Rp20 million along with several colleagues after holding a demonstration in mid-June 2026.
Mahfud considered the confession to be worrying news for the student community. He hoped that students would maintain their independence and not be easily influenced by certain interests.
"Yes, it is very sad if students are willing to be paid for that," said Mahfud at the University Club (UC) UGM, quoted on Thursday (25/6/2026).
Mahfud Says There Are Always Groups Outside the Mainstream of Student Movements
According to Mahfud, the phenomenon of some students taking a different path from the mainstream of student movements is not new. He admitted to witnessing similar conditions when he was still a student.
"When I was a student, there were many student-intel, doubling as intel, doubling as activists," explained Mahfud.
He said that after the New Order era ended, some people who had been involved in such activities admitted to having played the role of intel in exchange for certain rewards.
"And our relationship only thawed after the New Order collapsed, then we, oh you were intel, yes I was paid intel and so on," he added.
Mahfud then compared the phenomenon to the current situation, which he believes still shows parties being paid to influence public opinion or certain movements.
"Now there are people who are paid, there are buzzers, right. Then there are student activists like what happened in Jakarta at UBK. But that is a small current, a small current and it is easily detected," he revealed.
Students Are Reminded Not to Be Easily Divided
According to Headline24.id's observation, Mahfud also reminded students not to be easily divided through the formation of rival groups or organizations that could weaken the student movement.
"It is best for students not to want to be divided, there is a rival BEM, there is this BEM, that BEM, and so on."
He emphasized that students should continue to voice their criticism objectively to encourage improvements in various policies.
"The point is to fight objectively that improvements are needed now, right," Mahfud asserted.
Asks Alleged Paid Demonstrations to Be Revealed Openly
In addition to highlighting the confession of the UBK student, Mahfud also asked President Prabowo Subianto to reveal the parties allegedly financing the demonstrations if he already knows their identities.
According to him, conveying information openly will make the public aware of who is behind the alleged funding of the action.
“It should just be said openly. This BEM is paid, this is who pays, right. The payers are certain groups, not private individuals, but insiders, as has been suspected,” he said.
Mahfud added that he did not know who the intended parties were.
"Mr. Prabowo, just reveal who is paying? But, I don't know who is meant," Mahfud continued.
Student Criticism is Considered to Have a Basis
Mahfud assessed that the criticisms conveyed by students generally have clear arguments because they refer to government policies that are considered to need improvement.
“Like students, it's clear, this is the mistake here, the government is mentioned, the policies are mentioned. If you say students are paid, then who is to be improved in our midst?” Mahfud explained.
The statement was made following the confession of the Head of BEM FH UBK Muhammad Abdimaludin, who had previously admitted to receiving funds along with several colleagues after holding a demonstration. Abdimaludin was also known to have met with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka at the Vice Presidential Palace, Jakarta.
