REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The online petition through change.org opposed Padjadjaran University (Unpad) for awarding honorary doctorate for the fifth Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri on Wednesday (25/5).

The petition made by Genta Bijaksana devoted to the rector of Unpad Tri Hanggono Muhammad and Minister of Research Technology and Higher Education (Menristekdikti) Mohamad Nasir. Until Wednesday (25/5) at 11.30 am, the petition is signed by 435 people.

In the petition stated that the honorary degree in the academic world has prestige value, a pride of the nation's work and its contribution to civilization. The petition questioned the feasibility of Megawati to receive the award.

"What is her big contribution to this country? the petition said, recently.

The public are invited to remember how in the early 2000 era, student demonstrations were common in the streets when Indonesia led by Megawati. The petition revealed Megawati did not favor public policies to the people, including the privatization of state owned corporation, the sales of LNG below market price, human rights abuses, horizontal conflicts, weak law enforcement, and other cases.

"To be fair, if our alumni of Unpad felt the need to ask further what happen on awarding an honorary degree to Mrs Megawati Soekarnoputri," Genta write.

The award was considered against the government rules. In the rule of Minister of Education and Culture Number 21 Year 2013 Article 3 points B stated that the recipient of honorary doctorate should have the lowest bachelor degree (S-1), equivalent to level 6 (six) in the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI).

Meanwhile, Megawati,  Genta added, according to some sources, was fail to finished her undergraduate study at the Faculty of Agriculture, of Unpad.

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