Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — During a recent parliamentary session, Commission X members, Sofyan Tan gain attention online after referring Deputy Minister Stella Christie as ‘imported from China’. The comment was made during a meeting of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) held at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 6.
This meeting session was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu’ti, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, and Minister of Culture Fadli Zon.
Sofyan Tan’s remark came amid discussions on how Indonesia’s education system lags behind neighboring Malaysia. He expressed hope that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (KemendiktiSaintek) could catch up, especially with the appointment of Professor Stella, a former academic from China’s prestigious Tsinghua University.
“With Professor Stella, whom we ‘imported’ from Tsinghua University, I want to highlight that only 2% of our 314,000 lecturers are full professors,” Sofyan stated.
The lawmaker’s choice of words, particularly his use of the term “imported” in reference to Professor Stella Christie, quickly sparked backlash on social media. Critics condemned the comment as inappropriate, especially during an official parliamentary session.
Many social media users expressed their disapproval, with some calling the remarks disrespectful and even offensive.
Oneline user commented, “It’s completely inappropriate to refer to a professor as ‘imported.’ She’s Indonesian. Not funny at all.”
“Such a disgusting comment. She’s not a commodity to be imported like goods.”
“These remarks from a member of parliament are not only baseless but borderline racist. Professor Stella is a talented Indonesian who excelled abroad,” another added.
Stella Christie, who previously served as a professor at Tsinghua University in China, recently returned to Indonesia after being appointed by President Prabowo Subianto. Her decision to take up the role of Deputy Minister has been widely praised, with many Indonesians hoping she can help transform the country’s education system for the better.
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The controversy surrounding Sofyan Tan’s statement has drawn significant attention on social media, with many Indonesians rallying in support of Deputy Minister Stella Christie and her commitment to contributing to national education reform.
Christie’s appointment as Deputy Minister is seen as a positive step for Indonesia, as she brings extensive experience from one of China’s top universities. Public expectations are high, with many hoping that her expertise will lead to meaningful improvements in the country’s education landscape.
(Raidi/Agung)
