Former KPU Chair Defends Validity of Gibran’s Education Documents at Constitutional Court

Former General Elections Commission (KPU) Chairman Hasyim Asy’ari testified at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta on Oct. 1, 2026, detailing why election officials did not question the school completion credentials of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the 2024 presidential election. He noted that the KPU received two specific educational documents for Gibran Rakabuming Raka during registration. Two Educational Documents Reviewed by Election Officials

The first document was a secondary education equivalence letter issued on Aug. 6, 2019, by the Director General of Primary and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture, carrying number 9149/D.D1/KS/2019, which was legalized on Oct. 24, 2023. Hasyim Asy’ari stated the document confirmed Gibran Rakabuming Raka completed Grade 12 at UTS Insearch in Sydney, Australia, in 2006, and was deemed equivalent to completing an Indonesian vocational high school (SMK) in accounting and finance. The second document was a higher education equivalence decree issued by the Director General of Learning and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. Hasyim Asy’ari stated that because the documents originated from authorized institutions and no public complaints or doubts arose, election officials did not conduct further clarification steps. Petitioners Challenge Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s Qualifications

The constitutional challenge was brought by former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Denny Indrayana, former Minister of Religious Affairs Fachrul Razi, former Kopassus Commander Soenarko, and several other figures, according to BBC. The petitioners claim Gibran Rakabuming Raka failed to meet mandatory high school educational requirements during the 2024 election and argue the candidacy was administratively flawed and manipulative. During the evidentiary hearings on Sept. 30, 2026, the petitioners presented expert witnesses, including constitutional law experts Yance Arizona, election law expert Titi Anggraini, and public law expert Bivitri Susanti, Kompas reported. The petitioners are asking the Constitutional Court to disqualify Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice president and annul his inauguration by the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). Almas Tsaqibbirru Sends Support Letter to the Court

Almas Tsaqibbirru, who helped Gibran Rakabuming Raka advance as a vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election through a previous constitutional challenge that altered candidate age requirements, submitted a letter to the Constitutional Court supporting Denny Indrayana’s lawsuit, kumparan.com reported. Almas Tsaqibbirru stated through his legal counsel Arif Sahudi that he supports the legal process to ensure the integrity and validity of educational documents, hoping the court grants the petition if proper high school credentials cannot be proven in court. Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra addressed a request from the petitioners’ legal counsel Bambang Widjojanto to summon Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Law to testify, stating that the court has discussed the request but has not yet reached a final decision, according to Kompas.

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