Hetifah Sjaifudian, Chair of Commission X at the House of Representatives (DPR), has called for a direct clarification from Indonesian citizens (WNI) implicated in an alleged research fraud scandal at an international scientific conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Hetifah stated that such academic integrity breaches could significantly damage Indonesia’s reputation on the global stage.
“The alleged research fraud by several Indonesian citizens at the ISPPD conference in Denmark must be handled with the utmost seriousness, as it concerns academic integrity and the nation’s reputation in international forums,” Hetifah said in a statement on Thursday (May 28).
Regarding the assertion by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek), Brian Yuliarto, that those involved are not active lecturers or researchers, Hetifah acknowledged the government’s preliminary explanation while urging for continued scrutiny. She stressed that this initial finding should not preclude further investigation, which is essential to prevent public speculation and ensure clarity.
“We advocate for an investigation that is objective, transparent, and evidence-based,” she added. “Direct clarification from the accused individuals is vital to determine if this case involves academic ethical violations, administrative errors, or simply a misunderstanding during the conference proceedings.”
Hetifah emphasized that such steps are crucial to prevent unfair prejudice against any party involved. Looking ahead, she noted that this incident serves as a significant wake-up call for the management of Indonesian research and scientific publications. She reiterated the necessity of maintaining high standards to protect the country’s global competitiveness in the academic world.
The scandal first came to light after being exposed on Instagram by Wa Ode Dwi Daningrat, an Indonesian researcher in clinical medicine at the University of Oxford, last Monday (May 25). Her revelations quickly went viral across social media platforms. Dwi discovered irregularities in 19 scientific abstracts presented by the group at the 2026 International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) conference, held from May 17–21.
The ISPPD is a prestigious global forum dedicated to pneumonia and pneumococcal diseases, convening thousands of scientists, clinicians, and epidemiologists. According to Dwi, the sheer volume of abstracts submitted by the group in such a short timeframe was highly suspicious. She further alleged that the abstracts were inaccurate, contained fabricated data, and showed signs of unauthorized artificial intelligence (AI) usage.
In response to the growing controversy, Minister Brian Yuliarto confirmed that his ministry is actively investigating the claims. “The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is closely monitoring information regarding the alleged breach of academic integrity and research ethics by parties using Indonesian institutional affiliations,” Brian stated on Wednesday (May 27).
While the ministry is coordinating with relevant parties to verify the facts, the Minister reiterated that preliminary information suggests the individuals involved do not hold status as active lecturers or researchers at Indonesian higher education institutions. Nevertheless, he affirmed that the ministry views this matter with concern, as it poses a risk to the perceived integrity of the national research ecosystem.
Summary
Hetifah Sjaifudian, Chair of Commission X at the DPR, has demanded a formal clarification regarding allegations of research fraud involving Indonesian citizens at the ISPPD conference in Copenhagen. The scandal, which was initially exposed on social media, involves accusations of fabricated data and the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence in 19 scientific abstracts. Hetifah stressed that such incidents threaten Indonesia’s academic reputation and urged for a transparent, evidence-based investigation to determine the truth behind these violations.
While the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology noted that the individuals involved are reportedly not active lecturers or researchers, the ministry is continuing to monitor the situation closely. The investigation aims to resolve public speculation and verify whether the incident stems from ethical breaches, administrative errors, or misunderstandings. This case serves as a critical call to strengthen research management standards and protect the integrity of Indonesia’s scientific contributions on the global stage.