All academic elements from students to lecturers at universities across Indonesia have been influenced by radicalism, which creates a high risk of national disintegration, the ministry says.

“We are preparing the antiradicalism regulation as an anticipatory measure. We have included the state defense [bela negara] and the archipelagic outlook [wawasan kebangsaan] into our school curriculum since 2016,” said Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohammad Nasir on Saturday.

“The four state pillars, namely the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI], the state ideology of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity] must be guarded,” he went on.

The minister was speaking in front of thousands of students from Central Java and Yogyakarta during a lecture at Semarang State University on Saturday.

Nasir said rectors of universities had to be held accountable if students or lecturers became entrapped in radical movements. “This is because radical teachings should have been detected before they spread. Each institution has regulations, which carry sanctions, to prevent the spread of such teachings,” he said.

National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius said students, as the next generation of the nation, had to be kept away from radicalism, drug abuse and other negative influences.

“Therefore, lecturers, deans and rectors must be able to detect any of their students acting suspiciously,” he said.  (ebf)

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