Melki Sedek Huang
Born (2000-10-15) 15 October 2000
NationalityIndonesian
Alma materUniversity of Indonesia
Occupation
  • Activist

Melki Sedek Huang (born 15 October 2000) is an activist and law student at University of Indonesia who served as a chairman of The Student Executive Board from January until December 2023.

Life and career

Huang was born on 15 October 2000 in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.[1] He graduated from SMA Negeri 1 Pontianak and went to Faculty of Law at University of Indonesia majoring in law administration.[1][2] He was active in several organizations and volunteering such as being the member of Barisan Inti Makara Merah (BARIKARA) from 2019.[2]

Huang did his internship program at Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta from August until November 2021.[2] He then continued his internship at Tampubolon, Tjoe, and Partners Law Firm from August 2022 until February 2023.[2] In January 2023, Huang who served as Chairman of the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Law was appointed to become the chairman of The Student Executive Board at University of Indonesia.[2]

Controversy

Puan Maharani rat meme

On 24 March 2023, Student Executive Board of University of Indonesia published a meme of the chairman of the Indonesian People's Representative Council, Puan Maharani, who has a body like a rat on social media on their Twitter and Instagram.[3] In the video, the House of Representatives building is split open and a mouse appears from the rubble which was followed by the appearance of Puan, who is described as having the body of a rat, with the narration of the People's Robbers Council.[3]

This video however appeared as a criticism of the actions of the House of Representatives which formalized the job creation legislation into a law.[3] They said that the House of Representatives was showing its incompetence because it ratified the job creation legislation which was deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court because it contained defects, both formal and material.[3] Huang said that he often received attacks from buzzers after posting the meme.[4]

Many Indonesian netizens give a various reaction such as the pro one supported them and the contra one said that they should have did a demonstration on the street.[3] University of Indonesia representative, Amelita Lusia, said that they respect the freedom to convey an aspirations in a civilized manner and added that the freedom of expression must also be addressed by careful analysis of issues and in accordance with etiquette, culture, law, and maintaining order, security, safety, and respect for all parties.[5]

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician, Hendrawan Supratikno, responded to the video said that criticism is part of the student struggle but there are also limitations that must be considered and added that don't let passion or persistent enthusiasm to defend a position slip into swearing that degrades the essence of the task, and goes outside the corridors and academic ethics.[6] Many of politicians gave a various reaction such as United Development Party member, Arsul Sani, said that if the delivery was carried out by harassing the Puan like this it would not get any attention from the members of the House of Representatives in general and added that in general there will be only suspicions that students were being used by other parties.[7] General Treasurer of Nasdem Party, Ahmad Saroni, said that critics must be conveyed substantively and not in symbolic ways or even by attacking someone personally.[7] Vice Chairman of Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, said that policies and politicians may be criticized but the institution must still be maintained and respected.[7] He also compared what the Student Executive Board did with the 98 activists and said that the 98 activists fought against government policies at that time in intellectual ways.[7]

Faldo Maldini, Special Staff of the Minister of State Secretary and the former Chairman of The Student Executive Board, accused Huang funded by foreign parties for political interests in the campaign to reject the job copyright law.[8]

2023 OKK UI riot

On 14 August 2023, during the orientation of University of Indonesia campus activities, there was a commotion between the Student Executive Board represented by Huang and DPM UI.[9] This was caused by the speech from the Student Executive Board during the welcoming event for new students for criticizing the action of DPM UI which invited Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Investment of the Republic of Indonesia from the Golkar party, and assumed that DPM UI was trying to inject politics into campus.

Many of University of Indonesia student responded on Twitter with many of them said that Huang's actions had gone too far because he ruined the welcoming ceremony for new students and shouted at A. G. Sudibyo, the conductor of the University of Indonesia.

2024 Presidential Candidate Debate

On 23 August 2023, Huang invited the three of 2024 Indonesian Presidential Candidate such as Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, and Prabowo, to hold a debate at the University of Indonesia on 14 September 2023.[10] He invited all of the students and allowed the public to attend the debate event.[10] His invitation were responded by Baswedan, Habiburokhman who represented Prabowo, and Said Abdullah who represented Ganjar Pranowo.[10]

On 29 August, Baswedan visited the secretariat of the Student Executive Board of the University of Indonesia after giving a public lecture at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and found that there was no one there .[11] Huang later said that they was sending an invitation at Prabowo, Baswedan, and Pranowo residences when Baswedan visited the Student Executive Board.[12]

Accusation of being threatened by the authorities

On 25 November 2023, Huang stated that his WhatsApp account has been hacked.[13] He said that he was intimidated by the authorities on 28 October by visiting his school and home and asking about his personal information.[13] Huang later added that he believed it was related to the increasingly heated atmosphere in the 2024 presidential election and affecting critical community groups like himself.[13] West Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pipit Rismanto denied this and confirmed that none of his members were involved in the alleged intimidation.[14] Mahfud MD responded and said that he will sent a team to carry out additional investigations regarding the alleged intimidation to Huang and added that if this turned out to be true, the police had violated the constitution.[14] The alleged intimidation he experienced was then conveyed by Ganjar Pranowo who said that democracy is often advocated for respect, but law enforcement officers often behave in an intimidating manner which must be resolved immediately.[15]

Sexual assault

On 18 December 2023, Huang was dismissed from his position as chairman of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board because he was suspected of committing sexual assault.[16] However, Huang he didn't know about the rules that he broke and said that he never did a sexual assault, and will face legal proceedings if the report is true.[16][17] University of Indonesia representative, Amelita Lusia, said that the matter was an internal matter of the Indonesian University Student Executive Board so public comments could not be given.[18]

Huang's vice, Shifa Anindya Hartono, responded and said that the student executive had received the report and was carrying out an investigation.[19] Chair of the Task Force for Preventing and Handling Sexual Violence University of Indonesia, Manneke Budiman, said that they had received a report of alleged sexual violence committed by Huang.[20] However, Huang's dismissal was carried out as a procedure until the case had finished investigated.[19][20]

Awards

In June 2020, Huang was awarded the Best Staff of Departemen Kajian dan Aksi Strategis BEM FH UI 2020.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Profil Melki Sedek Huang, Ketua BEM UI yang Bikin Heboh Kritisi Jokowi". suara.com (in Indonesian). 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tjitra, Andry Triyanto (2023-03-23). "Profil Melki Sedek Huang, Ketua BEM UI yang Kritik DPR". Tempo. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Liputan6.com. "Berita Terkini, Kabar Terbaru Hari Ini Indonesia dan Dunia". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. "Cerita BEM UI Diserang Buzzer Usai Posting Meme Puan Berbadan Tikus". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  5. Santoso, Audrey. "Kata Kampus UI soal BEM UI Unggah Meme 'Puan Berbadan Tikus'". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  6. Indonesia, C. N. N. "PDIP Ingatkan BEM UI soal Meme Puan: Jangan Tergelincir Jadi Umpatan". nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Mawardi, Isal. "PPP-NasDem-Gerindra Sorot Meme Puan Berbadan Tikus Unggahan BEM UI". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  8. Andryanto, S. Dian (2023-03-24). "Faldo Maldini Sebut BEM UI seperti LSM Didanai Asing, Ini Balasan Kritikan BEM UI kepada Pemerintah". Tempo. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  9. "https://twitter.com/zzahidbd/status/1690995885545799681?t=GIlFRBqqPmEkGEA2fPE-3Q&s=19". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-08-31. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  10. 1 2 3 Indonesia, C. N. N. "BEM UI Tetapkan Debat Capres Anies, Ganjar & Prabowo 14 September". nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  11. Muliawati, Anggi. "Anies Sambangi Markas BEM UI: Kosong, Mungkin Kuliah Jadi Saya Tunggu". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
  12. Damarjati, Devi Puspitasari, Danu. "Markas Kosong Saat Anies Datang, BEM UI Ternyata Sedang Kirim Undangan". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. 1 2 3 Rinepta, Adji G. "Cerita Ketua BEM UI Ponsel Diretas, Rumah-Sekolah Didatangi Aparat Berseragam". detikjogja (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  14. 1 2 rds. "Pengakuan Ketua Bem UI soal Intimidasi Dibantah Polisi Sampai Pangdam". nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  15. Andryanto, S. Dian (2023-12-14). "Debat Capres Cawapres: Ganjar Sebut Intimidasi Dialami Ketua BEM UI Melki Sedek Huang, Begini Kasusnya". Tempo. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  16. 1 2 Liputan6.com (2023-12-19). "Viral Ketua BEM UI Diduga Lakukan Kekerasan Seksual, Begini Klarifikasinya". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. Muhtarom, Iqbal (2023-12-19). "Beredar Cuitan Ketua BEM UI Lakukan Kekerasan Seksual, Ini Jawaban Melki Sedek Huang". Tempo. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  18. Indonesia, C. N. N. "Melki Diberhentikan Sementara dari Ketua BEM UI, Bantah Langgar Aturan". nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  19. 1 2 Media, Kompas Cyber (2023-12-19). "BEM UI Terima Aduan Dugaan Kekerasan Seksual oleh Melki Sedek". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  20. 1 2 Damarjati, Danu. "Satgas PPKS Terima Laporan Dugaan Kekerasan Seks oleh Ketua BEM UI Nonaktif". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-12-19.
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