DENPASAR ~

Private Universities Coordinating Body  (Kopertis) Region VIII Bali and Nusa Tenggara threatened to close private universities (PTS) in the local area who tried or proven to provide fake graduation diploma.

“We will give strict sanctions against private universities (PTS) which try to open the service of making fake diploma that is immediately closed without the slightest tolerance,” said Coordinator of Kopertis VIII Bali and Nusa Tenggara Prof. Dr. I Nengah Dasi Astawa, M.Si in Denpasar on Wednesday.

He said, his party took such a decision based on direct order from the Technology, Research and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir.

He said, in Bali and Nusa Tenggara there is no PTS that is convicted of the offense, but he appealed to the public to report to the authorities if finding such phenomena.

He continued, universities should be trusted to produce generation who has competitiveness in the world of work, instead of becoming provider of fake diplomas. “Higher education has the noble task to educate the children of the nation, should not even be used for things other than that,” he said.

I Nengah Dasi Astawa added, that his side increasingly conduct routine oversight and guidance to 166 PTS which is located in Bali and Nusa Tenggara.

“If there’s illegal univeristy without that is not registered in the Directorate General of Higher Education issued a fake diploma, for example, it is beyond our authority, we only do the supervision and guidance of the PTS which are already registered legally,” said I Nengah Dasi Astawa.

Meanwhile, member of Bali Parliament (DPRD) Nyoman Suyasa urged the Department of Education, Youth and Sports to investigate allegations on university on the island that issued the diploma, without going through lectures process to certain student.

Suyasa said that if there is a person who used a fake diploma in any administration process, the government must have the courage to give strict punishment. Including the police must conduct legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Muhammad Nasir said that fake diploma holders will be exposed to punishment in the form of criminal sanctions.

“Anyone who holds a fake diploma, based on the Law on Higher Education, will be exposed to criminal punishment. Imprisonment for 10 years or a fine of IDR1 billion,” Nasir said.