TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Executive Board of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, has announced its withdrawal from the Student Family, the umbrella organization that oversees student organizations on campus, citing a desire to improve the system.
The UGM Student Family encompasses the UGM Student Executive Board (BEM) and the Student Consultative Assembly (MPM). Emulating the state system, the BEM carries out executive functions, while the MPM carries out oversight or legislative functions.
The Head of the UGM Student Executive Board, Tiyo Ardianto, stated that the decision to withdraw from the UGM Student Family arose from a desire to improve the organizational system, which they believe has deteriorated. Tiyo cited the lack of student involvement in various movements addressing public issues related to government and campus policies as an example.
He stated that some people have long assumed the BEM represents the 42,000 students at UGM. However, this actually underestimates student involvement in the movement. “It’s as if the Student Executive Board (BEM) president is everything. In fact, everyone should have the freedom to express their opinions,” Tiyo said on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
According to Tiyo, as an academic institution, universities should provide everyone with the opportunity to engage independently, without going through BEM representatives. He cited the example of government policies that are detrimental to the public, such as the free nutritious meal program, where every student should have the right to protest without going through BEM. Another example is when Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman sued Tempo for Rp 200 billion, an attack on press freedom. This should have fostered solidarity from everyone without having to go through BEM.
In addition to declaring the representative system irrelevant to the current situation of the student movement, BEM UGM also highlighted various internal problems plaguing BEMs on several campuses. Tiyo observed a general distrust of BEMs in Indonesia. This is because some students believe BEMs are often co-opted by the government and rectorate officials, preventing them from playing an independent role in responding to various issues. “BEM’s activism is inefficient, so changes are needed,” Tiyo said.
Furthermore, he believes that the system for electing Student Executive Board (BEM) leaders in Indonesia is problematic in general because it creates competition similar to a free market system. This competition forces BEM candidates to compete with each other to raise capital. According to Tiyo, the BEM leadership election system mimics regional head elections. The patronage system fosters a culture of feudalism.
These various issues prompted BEM UGM to reform the organization, calling itself the Transformation Cabinet.
BEM’s decision to leave the UGM Student Family emerged following a Special Congress involving the Student Consultative Assembly (MPM) held online on November 7, 2025. BEM UGM expressed its disappointment with the MPM for refusing to listen to input on transforming the UGM Student Family to make it more relevant to current developments. “They silenced our voices and chose to maintain the established order,” Tiyo said.
According to him, the forum’s leadership failed to open up space for dialogue. BEM demanded a new, offline Special Congress that upholds democratic principles and follows procedures.
The leader of the three MPMs, Salman Alfarisi, stated that the UGM Directorate of Student Affairs is mediating between the MPMs and the BEMs due to internal dynamics. He stated that the two have different perspectives on student organizations. “Both have the same justification and legitimacy,” he said.
