Rhoma Irama, the Professor? Eh, doubtful...

Source: solopos.com

A recent scandal over the Indonesia's political paronama is currently having a part of the internet on a buzz, and me in a fit of giggles! Well, it's a nice, albeit absurd, change from the usual graft scandals nowadays. I think I can safely say that newspaper readers in the country have gotten really really tired of those graft headlines. Still, we have a quite long way to go before the country is completely clean (sort of) of any hussy-hissy business.

Causing ruckus (again)

Rhoma Irama was originally an entertainer. A dangdut entertainer to be exact. Dangdut is one of Indonesian folk music, probably the most popular of the bunch. Mr. Irama has been highly successful in his career, earning him the nickname "King of Dangdut". Yes, just like Michael Jackson is the King of Pop for some.

Source: kapanlagi.com

In most cases, a popular entertainer can hardly refuse the temptation of being a politician. What a politician needs most is popularity. Mr. Irama has it. He is not an exception to the rule. Therefore, he's decided that he would join this year's presidential race. That's why the people of Indonesia are now being presented one of the most....baffling candidate for the race. He's certainly an intriguing lad, isn't he?

So, when I opened my newspaper this morning it wasn't much of a surprise. Apparently, like in the first picture above, Rhoma Irama has added "Prof." to his name in order to boost up his popularity in the upcoming election. This has caused controversies.

A PR Move?

A team of investigators quickly worked to find out the question on people's minds: "Is the title for real?" When Mr. Irama was questioned about it, he answered, "The title was inaugurated for me in 2005 by the American University of Hawaii." Shortly after that, there were reports coming up that the aforementioned university was not enlisted on Webometrics.  In other words, the university was never legally accredited as a competent university, with allegations such as giving unaccredited decrees to some of Hawaiian politicians and government staffs. According to shivathespy.blogspot.com, the university allegedly doesn't have any listed student!

From another perspective (a.k.a. Mr. Irama's PR staffs), a Doctor Honoris Causa (HC) was honored to him in regards of his achievements in the music industry. It was never spelled out "professor". Hmm... One has to wonder, though, why it was still written as "professor".

For all I know, this could be one genius strike of PR move. In all probability, Mr. Irama can't really compete with the currently hero-of-the-people candidate Joko Widodo. What better way to have it all out by being the troublemaker? That's a sure way to catch attention. And it worked 'cause he has got the media buzzing.

Money in Exchange for Titles

Another perspective from this whole fiasco is that hopefully, people's eyes will be opened by how much money dictates the rules, even in the so-called "upstanding" academic sector. Following the revelation that the American University of Hawaii might not be completely competent and legally authorized giving out titles, there re-surfaces a suspicion made by Iran's Department of Public Affairs concerning this particular university - commercializing illegal diploma.

It's been said that a Bachelor of Economics can measure up to 15 millions rupiah worth (approximately US$1500).

Well, I'm pretty sure that there's almost nothing surprising. Graft and money play has been a public secret since only-God-knows-when. But, it's rather vindicating to see these matters being exposed in the popular media. Let's just cross our fingers, and hope that someones will be taking actions! (If only I was a few year older and free from my academic duties... *sigh*)


This writing is heavily referring to some articles posted in solopos.com.