Antara, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police apologized to the public regarding the circulating news surrounding the 2026 Indonesian Student Youth Pledge Declaration.
The event was held by the Jakarta Metro Police in front of the Thamrin Police Post in Central Jakarta on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
"On behalf of the Jakarta Metro Police, we apologize to the entire public. We understand that this event has generated a variety of responses, and we accept any criticism with open arms as constructive evaluation," Head of Public Relations at the Jakarta Metro Police Sr. Comr. Budi Hermanto said in a written statement in Jakarta on Saturday, October 31.
He explained that the declaration took place to commemorate the 98th Youth Pledge Day, which carried the theme "Patriotik, Gigih, Berempati: Pemuda untuk Indonesia" (Patriotic, Persistent, Empathetic: Youth for Indonesia).
Several public figures attended the event, including the President's Special Envoy for Youth Development and Arts Workers, Raffi Ahmad, and content creator Willie Salim.
"Raffi Ahmad and Willie Salim came at our invitation as organizers. Both carried good intentions to share the spirit of the Youth Pledge," Budi said.
He further emphasized that law enforcement respects every aspiration and critique voiced by the public. "The Youth Pledge teaches us unity, and we want to uphold that value alongside all elements of the nation. We will use all input for internal evaluation so our public services continue to improve," Budi added.
On Thursday, October 29, or a day after the Youth Pledge Day, the Jakarta Metro Police held the 2026 Indonesian Student Youth Pledge Declaration together with students and community leaders at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta.
The event sparked controversy after it was revealed that several participants were fake students. The controversy surrounding the event arose after a clip of an interview with a participant named Dino circulated on Kompas.com. During the interview, Dino, wearing a Dian Nusantara University (Undira) alma mater jacket, appeared to stutter when asked about his university. He even turned to ask the person near him.
Dino then repeated his friend's answer, claiming to be from Bina Sarana Informatika (BSI) University, even though the alma mater jacket he was wearing was not that of a BSI student. The clip of the interview went viral on social media, with netizens questioning the identities of the other participants present at the declaration.
During the event, Raffi Ahmad expressed deep appreciation for the enthusiasm shown by the young attendees. He also reminded the audience that the challenges confronting today's younger generation have shifted alongside rapid technological advancements.
"In the past, our predecessors fought with sharpened bamboo, but today we face hoaxes on social media, hate speech, and online provocation. What's certain is that our young men and women must never allow themselves to be divided," Raffi stated.
He urged all young people to continuously preserve national unity despite their background differences.
Organized to mark the 98th Youth Pledge Day, the event drew approximately 100 students. During the same occasion, Budi emphasized that the event extended beyond an annual routine, serving as a tangible platform to foster closer ties between students, the general public, and security forces.
"We hope this event becomes more than a ceremonial declaration and will unite us. The younger generation plays a vital role in building positive initiatives and contributing to Indonesia's progress," Budi added.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2122737/jakarta-police-apologize-over-youth-pledge-even