Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) reaffirmed its commitment to reviving academic dialectic space through an in-depth discussion on Mahfud MD's written works. The event, which took place at the Prof. Dr. Sardjito General Lecture Building on Monday (6/7), thoroughly dissected the legal and political ideas that have shaped the intellectual career of the former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.
UII Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Hari Purnomo, emphasized that this forum was designed to go beyond formal ceremonies. He encouraged students to use this discussion as a critical medium to test ideas. Furthermore, Prof. Hari motivated the academic community to actively write as a concrete contribution to the scientific world, referring to his own experience in producing academic literary works.
In his presentation, Mahfud MD explained that the book is a reflection on various socio-political dynamics in Indonesia, including his views on the relationship between Islam and the state. He emphasized that establishing a caliphate state is a political choice within a democratic system, but not a theological obligation. According to him, the substance of Islam is more focused on the values of justice, order, and obedience to the law.
The discussion, moderated by Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Masduki, also featured two expert panelists, namely Prof. Dr. Suparman Marzuki and Andi Widjajanto. Prof. Suparman highlighted law not as a static norm, but as an instrument that always intersects with power configurations, while Andi Widjajanto highlighted the strategic role of law as the main foundation in guiding the reform agenda and democratic consolidation in the country.
Through this forum, UII successfully created a meeting space between legal theory, political reality, and state ethics. The event serves as a reminder for the younger generation that academic integrity must remain alive through a tradition of healthy criticism and discussion to enrich Indonesia's constitutional insights.
