Jakarta – The general chairperson of the United Indonesian People's Movement (GRIB) Greater Jakarta Central Leadership Board (DPP), Rosario de Marshal alias Hercules, has visited the home of the 7th president of the Republic of Indonesia Joko "Jo kowi" Widodo in the Central Java (Jateng) city of Solo
Hercules claimed that he visited Widodo's home to maintain friendship ties as an old colleague when Widodo was still the governor of Jakarta. "Yes, I'm just an old friend, so from the time when he was still the governor, right" said Hercules at Widodo's residence in Sumber Village, Banjarsari district, as reported by Detik Jateng, on Tuesday April 15.
Hercules then spoke about Widodo's university diploma which has become the subject of a polemic again. Hercules claimed that he was sure that Widodo's diploma was genuine. "Yeah, enough already, he's got a real diploma right, hasn't he, he was a mayor, a governor, a president wasn't he, what's with these people [saying it's] a fake diploma, what fake diploma, yeah", said Hercules.
According to Hercules, if the diploma was a fake, Widodo could not have run as he mayor of Solo or president.
"[If it was a] fake diploma he couldn't possibly have become a mayor, a governor, a governor who become president, or like that. So we don't need to look for problems to create a sensation, to create a commotion", he said. (gil)
Notes
The controversy over former president Widodo's academic record has resurfaced following a public statement by former Mataram University lecturer Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar who cast doubt on the authenticity of Widodo diploma and thesis from the Gajah Mada University (UGM) over the type of font used in the document. Notorious crime boss Rosario de Marshal alias Hercules, who has served prison terms for extortion and money laundering, also has a close relationship with President Prabowo Subianto which goes back to when the former general served in East Timor during the 1980s and Hercules worked for the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus).
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Hercules Temui Jokowi di Solo, Singgung Polemik soal Ijazah".]
