Indonesian minister faces allegations he hired a writer for dissertation

Top uni awards Ph D after less than 2 years, reviving chatter on the use of such services

- Linda Yulisman

Controversy has erupted across the country after a Cabinet minister was awarded a doctoral degree by a top Indonesian university following a short period of study, giving rise to allegations that he used the services of a writer-for-hire, or "joki", for his dissertation.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, 48, has defended his dissertation on the downstreaming of the domestic nickel industry.

The minister got his Ph.D. after one year and eight months, instead of the usual three or four years it takes to complete doctoral studies, at the prestigious University of Indonesia (UI). He was awarded the doctorate with honors (cum laude) from the School of Strategic and Global Studies.

While it is still unclear if the paper was the result of joki service, the issue has revived chatter on the rampant use of such hired writers, who either sit exams in place of the actual candidates or ghostwrite essays, theses or dissertations in exchange for a fee.

The practice is longstanding and widespread in Indonesia, with some openly advertising their services on social media, according to experts.

As for Dr. Bahlil, his Ph.D. was awarded just five days before he was named a member of President Prabowo Subianto's Cabinet on Oct 21. The chairman of the Golkar party was previously minister of investment for more than three years under the Joko Widodo administration.

The award grabbed national attention after a group of UI alumni initiated a petition on change.org to demand a probe into the issue. The petition has garnered more than 14,000 signatures to date.