House of Representatives Considers Syaiful Mujani’s Statement Provocative and Potentially Sparks Polemics in the Public Sphere

JAKARTA — Firman Soebagyo, a member of the Golkar faction of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), reminded public figures to be more cautious in making statements that could potentially spark controversy and public unrest.

Firman Soebagyo highlighted a statement made by Syaiful Mujani, founder and senior researcher at Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), which he considered to be related to the issue of impeaching President Prabowo Subianto.

“You must be careful when speaking in public, especially as a figure at a very senior survey institution,” said Firman.

Such a statement could be considered provocative and even risk being interpreted as an invitation to commit acts that violate the law and the state constitution, or what is commonly known as treason.

“The president can only be impeached if proven to have committed a serious legal violation, and this must go through stages in the DPR, the Constitutional Court, and the MPR,” he emphasized.

As a public figure and a senior figure in a widely recognized survey institution, Syaiful Mujani should be aware that every statement made to the public must be made carefully and responsibly.

However, Syaiful Mujani initially denied the accusations. He emphasized that his statement was not intended to encourage unconstitutional action, but rather that it had been cut out of the video, creating a false perception among the public.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, but this freedom is not unlimited. Firman warned that provocative or inflammatory statements, especially those from influential figures, can quickly ignite unrest in the public sphere and disrupt national stability. The public is expected to maintain a conducive political and social climate. [-RWA]