YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (Aug 28) — Former Chief Justice Mahfud MD delivered a pointed warning to new law students at UIN Sunan Kalijaga on Thursday: money politics and oligarchy, not outdated laws, are eroding Indonesia’s justice system.

“If politics is rotten, law will follow suit,” Mahfud said, emphasizing that political corruption threatens the integrity of courts and legislation alike.

He proposed a radical measure he called “total lustration”—a full cleansing of past corruption with possible amnesty, followed by strict penalties for future offenders, including the death penalty.

Yet Mahfud’s message was not all bleak. He placed hope in the students, urging them to embrace honesty and courage. “To be a good leader, you must have the courage to be honest,” he told the audience, likening the red-and-white Indonesian flag to bravery and integrity.

Rector Noorhaidi Hasan called the lecture “a monumental moment” for the university, stressing the importance of impartial justice even amid Indonesia’s complex socio-political landscape. The dean of the Faculty of Sharia said Mahfud’s talk would inspire young law students to pursue integrity and justice in their future careers.

Closing his speech, Mahfud quoted the Qur’an: “When you judge between people, judge with justice.” He reminded students that the future of a fair legal system rests in their hands as Indonesia aims for its Golden Vision 2045. (humassk)