A Familiar Tune in FEB's Leadership Contest

Mursalim Nohong is angling for the deanship of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), his name increasingly prominent in the faculty’s leadership race. According to sources within the rectorate and faculty staff, Mursalim has secured the backing of the current dean, Rahman Kadir—a power broker whose tenure has been far from unblemished. But behind the genial persona of smiles and quips that Mursalim presents lies a troubling disposition towards criticism, particularly from student groups that challenge the faculty’s policies.

One controversy looms large. The exclusion of certain vocal student organizations from the recent campus orientation program, Pengenalan Kehidupan Kampus Bagi Mahasiswa Baru (PKKMB), has raised eyebrows. A Media Ekonomi investigation found that the decision to bar these groups originated from faculty leadership. A source involved in planning the event, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Deputy Dean for Student Affairs questioned the legal standing of these organizations, effectively sidelining them from the proceedings.

Fakhrul Indra, the PKKMB chairperson, defended the exclusion, citing procedural requirements. “Student organizations needed a recommendation letter from the Deputy Dean, but they failed to request one in time. We were working against tight deadlines,” he explained. Yet this narrative has been contested. Reporters uncovered no evidence of official correspondence regarding such recommendations, raising suspicions that Fakhrul’s statement was a thinly veiled attempt to shield Mursalim from criticism.

Mursalim’s handling of dissent has further eroded his carefully cultivated image as a tolerant and diplomatic leader. Reports of him challenging critical students to a duel—once in May and again in November—offer a stark contrast to his public facade. Such conduct echoes the tempestuous leadership style of Rahman Kadir, whose tenure as dean has been marred by controversy. Rahman’s record includes accusations of pressuring senior faculty to pass underperforming students in a scandal that became a national issue, and an outburst at students who dared to inquire about misallocated student funds.

Then there is the issue of unauthorized fees. During Rahman’s tenure, the implementation of paid graduation ceremonies (yudisium) sparked outrage. While Rahman publicly denied responsibility during a rectorate meeting on April 29th, where he claimed the fees were long abolished, subsequent investigations revealed they persisted until May. After this meeting, Mursalim reportedly confronted students who raised concerns, dismissing them as “cocky” and issuing yet another challenge for a duel. Alumni testimonies further implicate Mursalim, with some alleging that he personally solicited payments for the yudisium. “I was called by the Deputy Dean and taken aside. He explained that the fees were to support underprivileged students and fund student activities, urging me to pay promptly,” recounted one graduate.

In a startling revelation, an interview with a management student uncovered Mursalim’s use of the ‘Pengurus Angkatan’—a leadership group formed through acclamation by bureaucrats, bypassing democratic processes—to monitor student activities. Mursalim openly admitted to having access to the contents of student WhatsApp group chats, a tactic aimed at controlling student movements. This raises serious concerns about the erosion of campus freedoms and the increasing surveillance of student activities.

Both Mursalim and Rahman share more than a penchant for theatrics. Neither, it appears, has complied with mandatory asset declarations to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), as confirmed by the agency’s spokesperson. Such lapses in transparency speak volumes about their attitudes toward accountability.

If Mursalim indeed succeeds Rahman as dean, it raises pressing questions about the future of FEB. Will the faculty see meaningful reform, or merely a continuation of the same opaque and authoritarian governance under a different name? The parallels between mentor and protégé suggest little cause for optimism. For FEB’s students and faculty alike, the leadership race offers an uneasy prospect of more of the same.