Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla (JK), recently convened a press conference to address a swirling controversy and police reports. These issues stem from a clipped video of his lecture at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and separate allegations concerning President Jokowi’s academic diploma.
One major point of contention is a police report filed against JK with the Polda Metro Jaya, accusing him of alleged religious blasphemy. This accusation was triggered by an incomplete video segment of a lecture he delivered at the UGM Campus Mosque on March 5, 2026. The complainant asserted that JK’s statements appeared to equate doctrines of violence within religious teachings.
Concurrently, in the ongoing Jokowi diploma case, JK faces accusations of financially supporting parties who are challenging the authenticity of President Jokowi’s academic qualifications.
In light of these grave allegations, Jusuf Kalla provided a comprehensive explanation during his media briefing. Here’s a summary of his key responses:
JK vehemently asserted that the accusation of religious blasphemy against him is entirely unfounded and constitutes a malicious act of slander. Speaking from his residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Saturday (April 18), he stated, “May Allah forgive those who slander. Al-fitnatu asyaddu minal qatl – slander is worse than murder. Everyone is slandering me.” Despite offering a prayer for his accusers, JK made it clear that he would not remain passive. He is seriously considering legal action against those responsible for editing and twisting the narrative of his lecture.
During the same occasion, JK unequivocally stated that no religious doctrine, whether Islamic or Christian, condones violence. “I refute their misguided understanding,” JK emphasized. “I stated there is no teaching in Islam or Christianity that dictates killing people leads to heaven.” JK clarified that his contested remarks were made while he was recounting his experience in de-escalating bloody conflicts in Poso and Ambon decades ago. He explained that the seemingly harsh narrative was purely a sociological observation and a field strategy designed to awaken the warring factions. “In that mosque, I was narrating a sociological fact during wartime,” JK elaborated. “I used those words to make them realize, ‘You will all go to hell if you kill your own brothers!’ So, it was my strategy to stop the war, not an act of blasphemy.” Furthermore, JK cautioned that religion can easily be exploited as a pretext for conflict if individuals on the ground misinterpret its teachings and falsely believe that killing in the name of faith offers a shortcut to heaven.
Expressing his frustration with those who frequently discredit his relationship with Indonesia’s 7th President, Jokowi, JK seized the opportunity amidst the diploma controversy slander to reiterate his pivotal role in launching Jokowi’s national political career. “Tell all those ungrateful people,” JK stated plainly during his media briefing at his South Jakarta residence on Saturday (April 18), “Jokowi became President because of me. Agree? Agree. Without becoming Governor, how could he have become President?” JK recounted the political history where he personally intervened to convince PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to endorse and bring Jokowi to Jakarta as a candidate for DKI Governor. He emphasized that Jokowi’s success in the capital city served as the crucial stepping stone for his ascent to the presidency. Furthermore, in the 2014 presidential election, JK revealed that his position as a vice-presidential candidate was a direct request from Megawati to accompany Jokowi. Recalling that moment, he quoted, “Ibu Mega said, ‘No, Mr. Jusuf must accompany him.’ I wouldn’t sign if Mr. Jusuf wasn’t his running mate. Yes, I didn’t ask for it, no. Ibu Mega asked me to accompany him because he lacked experience.”
JK candidly dismissed allegations of his involvement by disclosing that the complainant, Rismon Sianipar, had previously requested money and attempted to arrange a meeting. He also mentioned that telematics expert Roy Suryo had similarly sought a meeting. “Rismon wanted to meet me with seven people; I refused,” JK revealed during his media briefing in South Jakarta on Saturday (April 18). “He asked for money; I rejected it.” Not only did JK decline Rismon and his entourage, but he also firmly stated that he shut the door on Roy Suryo’s attempts to meet him. “Roy Suryo wanted to meet me; I refused. On March 2, he wanted to meet me with seven people. I did not accept,” he asserted. JK suspects that these outright rejections of meeting and financial requests enraged Rismon, leading him to fabricate public falsehoods to attack JK and several other national figures, including former President SBY. “Because I didn’t give him anything, he created this slander,” JK explained. “He involved everyone, accusing me, accusing Mr. SBY. This is purely slander and an attempt to divert the issue. That’s why I reported him to the Bareskrim (Criminal Investigation Unit).”