KPU Denies Allegations of Structured and Systematic Concealment of Gibran's Education
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The General Elections Commission (KPU) has denied allegations from former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, Denny Indrayana, accusing them of a structured, systematic, and planned effort to conceal Gibran Rakabuming Raka's educational background as a candidate for vice president in the 2029 presidential election.
The KPU legal team conveyed this statement while presenting the Commission's response as the Respondent in the election dispute hearing Number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026 at the Constitutional Court (MK) building in Jakarta on Wednesday evening (September 23, 2026).
"The opinions suggesting a structured, systematic, and planned cover-up built by the Petitioners are unfounded and can be categorized as TST opinions—structured, systematic, and reprehensible," the KPU legal counsel said during the session.
It is known that Denny Indrayana and others, in case number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026, questioned that KPU Regulation (KKPU) Number 731 of 2025 was created to hide candidate pairs' data.
He explained that KKPU Number 731 of 2025 is identical in wording to KKPU Number 35 of 2016, which was issued on March 15, 2026.
"The Respondent denies that KKPU Number 731 of 2025, which essentially classifies proof of graduation in the form of copies of diplomas, certificates of completion, or other legalized documents issued by educational institutions or secondary education programs as public information that is exempted," the KPU legal team stated.
Furthermore, the KKPU stipulates that data related to the education and graduation information of candidate pairs cannot be accessed by the public until the individual provides written consent.
"It cannot be made public until the concerned party gives written approval. Currently, that KKPU has been revoked as per KKPU Number 807 of 2025," added the KPU legal counsel.
In addition, KPU emphasized that Gibran has fulfilled the educational requirements to be a vice presidential candidate.
KPU accepted and verified the candidate document requirements for the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka pair on October 28, 2023.
Regarding Gibran, they referred to Article 1, paragraph (7) of the Ministry of Education and Culture Regulation (Permendikbud) Number 29 of 2014, which states that an equivalency certificate is a document certifying that a diploma/certificate obtained abroad is equivalent to a domestic diploma.
Based on this regulation, it can be concluded that Gibran's high school equivalency certificate is equivalent to a diploma.
Febrianto Adi Saputro Continued hearing of Case Number 01/PHPU.PRES/XXIV.2026 concerning the lawsuit on the candidacy requirements of Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2024 General Election at the MK building, Jakarta, Wednesday (September 23, 2026). (KOMPAS.com/Febrianto Adi Saputro)
Additionally, there is Article 18, paragraph (1) of the General Elections Commission Regulation (PKPU) Number 19 of 2023.
According to PKPU 19/2023, KPU exempts candidates who studied abroad and already hold higher education graduation proof from submitting secondary school graduation evidence.
"Therefore, the Petitioners’ argument questioning the fulfillment of educational requirements cannot automatically be used as a basis to declare the candidate as not meeting the applicable legal provisions," the KPU legal team stated.
For context, Denny Indrayana, along with several parties, filed a dispute regarding the 2024 election results about Gibran's candidacy as vice president, claiming he does not meet the educational requirements.
One of their demands is for the MK to disqualify Gibran due to unmet educational qualifications.
