Rahmat Hidayat – Public debate has intensified in Indonesia following allegations that former University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Student Executive Board chairman Tiyo Ardianto has connections to figures associated with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), claims that the party has firmly rejected.
The controversy emerged after members of BEM Bersatu, a student alliance, questioned the ownership of a Toyota Fortuner vehicle allegedly used by Ardianto and linked it to individuals they said were related to retired Indonesian military officer Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Setyo Sularso, who was known as a supporter of former presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo during the 2024 election.
Speaking at a press conference in East Jakarta on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, BEM Bersatu representative Rahmat Djimbula alleged that the vehicle was registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni.
"The Fortuner vehicle that he allegedly uses is registered under the name of Siti Nuraeni," Rahmat said.
Rahmat further claimed that Siti Nuraeni is the sister of Setyo Sularso and argued that the matter raised questions about potential political influences surrounding recent student demonstrations, including protests criticizing the government's Free Nutritious Meals Program, known locally as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG).
He also pointed to the presence of politician Andi Widjajanto at one of the protest events as an additional factor that fueled speculation among some observers.
Rahmat said student movements should remain independent from practical political interests and warned against what he described as attempts to use student activism for broader political objectives.
"We, BEM Bersatu, reject all forms of political interference in student movements," Rahmat said. "Student movements must remain the voice of the people, not a tool for elite political competition."
The allegations were subsequently rejected by PDI-P politician Guntur Romli, who described the claims as baseless and damaging to the integrity of student activism.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Romli said attempts to connect student demonstrations against the MBG program with the party lacked factual support.
"These accusations are baseless, absurd, and undermine the moral integrity of student movements," Romli said.
Romli specifically disputed claims linking the party to individuals mentioned during the BEM Bersatu press conference.
"The facts are that Siti Nuraeni and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Setyo Sularso are neither members nor officials of PDI Perjuangan," he said.
He added that drawing political conclusions based on vehicle ownership records and family relationships represented an unsupported line of reasoning.
The debate comes amid heightened public scrutiny of student-led demonstrations and broader discussions about the role of political actors in civic movements. No evidence has been publicly presented linking Ardianto or the protests directly to PDI-P organizational activities.
As of Wednesday, neither Ardianto nor representatives of the student movement had publicly responded to the specific allegations regarding vehicle ownership and political affiliations.