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Science and politics
For the sake of research and technological development, the backbone of a nation’s survival, the BRIN should remain independent and immune from political interests.
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T
he protracted COVID-19 crisis showcases the cost the country has to pay for its policymakers’ choice of politics over science in responding to the pandemic. The story looks to repeat itself as the government has opened up a chance for Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her capacity as head of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education’s (BPIP) steering committee, to lead the steering committee of the National Research Agency (BRIN).
Presidential Regulation No. 33/2021 on the BRIN, which President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo signed on April 28, does not specifically refer to Megawati’s role in the research agency. Rather, it says the committee is led by a BPIP steering committee member.
But the new BRIN chairman, Laksana Tri Handoko, confirmed after his inauguration that Megawati would assume the chief post on the research agency’s steering committee. The ruling PDI-P, through its secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, said Megawati deserved the job considering her track record of advocating the importance of science and technology over the years. In fact, Hasto said, Megawati was the one who proposed to Jokowi the formation of the BRIN when the latter was bidding for reelection in 2019.
The responsibilities of the steering committee will be crucial as it provides input to the BRIN chairman in formulating policies and oversees research to be in line with Pancasila. Despite the key role the steering committee will play, however, there has been no explanation, let alone scientific reasoning, why the BPIP should take the lead in the first place. It is as if there is an apprehension that certain research will undermine the state ideology.
For sure the presidential regulation on the BRIN has raised many eyebrows. Not only is a decision to declare research in compliance with the state ideology or not prone to the subjectivity of those sitting on the steering committee, but also, should Megawati head the committee? The fact that she chairs a political party could lead to political decisions that intervene with the work of the BRIN, which does not bode well for Indonesia, which lags behind other countries in the world of R&D.
As Berry Juliandi of the Indonesian Young Scientists Forum (IYSF) has warned, under such circumstances, the independence of researchers will be at stake. The steering committee, for example, may recommend funding only research that fulfills the interests of its members, including Megawati. Coincidentally, PDI-P politician Budiman Sudjatmiko announced a plan to build a research center called Bukit Algoritma (Algorithm Hill) in a remote area in the West Java regency of Sukabumi. Dubbed the Silicon Valley of Indonesia, Budiman said the facility would be a center of technological innovation that would develop artificial intelligence, drones, solar panels, renewable energy and so on.
Whether or not the Bukit Algoritma project has something to do with the BRIN only time will tell. But for the sake of research and technological development, the backbone of a nation’s survival, the BRIN should remain independent and immune from political interests.
Instead of allowing political elites to control science, we need more scientists to get involved in the political institution like the House of Representatives so that more policies are drafted based on science.
