UIN Jakarta Lecturers Take on Strategic Roles in the Ministry of Religious Affairs
Jakarta, UIN News Online - The Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. K.H. Nasaruddin Umar, officially commenced five new special staff and experts at the Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (06/01/2025).
For your information, these five special staff assigned by the Minister of Religion include:
- Dr. Farid F. Saenong, Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs for Education, Community Organizations and Religious Moderation.
- Dr. Drs. Ismail Cawidu, M.Si., Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs for Public Policy, Media or Public Relations and Human Resources Development.
- Gugun Gumilar, M.A., Ph.D., Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs for Religious Harmony, Monitoring, and Foreign Cooperation.
- Nona Gayatri Nasution, S.Si., Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs for Education, Bureaucratic Reform, and Institutional Governance.
- Dr. Sutomo, S.P., M.Si., Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs for Institutional Relations and Cooperation.
Meanwhile, the five experts appointed by the Minister of Religious Affairs include:
- Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung, as an Expert to the Minister of Religious Affairs for Law, Human Rights, and Religious Harmony.
- Jojon Novandri, as an Expert on Religious Education and Religious Affairs.
- Junisab Akbar, becomes an Expert to the Minister of Religious Affairs for ASN Supervision and Control.
- Mhd. Ainul Yakin, becomes Expert to the Minister of Religious Affairs for Inter-Institutional Relations.
- Bunyamin M. Yapid, becomes an Expert to the Minister of Religion for Hajj, Umrah, and Foreign Cooperation.
Interestingly, two of the names aforementioned are active lecturers of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, namely Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung, SH, M.H., and Dr. Drs. Ismail Cawidu, M.Si. Who are they, and what makes their appointment so special in this occasion?
Prof. Dr. Andi Maggalatung: Lecturer at UIN Jakarta's Faculty of Sharia and Law becomes Expert to the Minister of Religious Affairs
Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung, SH, M.H., is a Professor at the Faculty of Sharia and Law of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. He was born in Sengkang, South Sulawesi, on March 3, 1954, and has an extraordinary academic journey.
Andi studied hadith science at the Al-Junaiddiyah Biru Modern Islamic Boarding School in Watampone, Bone. Although, he came from a small village in a remote part of South Sulawesi, his faith for studying was unshakable.
The educational trail of this man continued at IAIN Alauddin Makassar, where Andi earned a bachelor's degree (S1) in the Faculty of Sharia in 1980. Not only stopping there, he also pursued a Bachelor of Laws (S.H.) at Pattimura University (UNPATI) Ambon in 1995, and then earned a Master of Laws (M.H.) at the University of Indonesia (UI) in 2000. He also earned his Doctorate (Dr.) degree in 2007, which further strengten his position as a legal expert.
As an academic, Andi not only focuses on theory, but also encourages the application of the values of moderation, inclusiveness, and tolerance in the legal world. His scientific works often become important references for academics and legal practitioners, especially in the field of Islamic Law.
During the monitoring of UIN News Online, his works in the form of books such as Ethics and Morals of Law Enforcement in Indonesia, Principles of Law Enforcement, and Indonesian Harmony: A Practical Guide to Prevent Terrorism, are often used to understand how Islamic law can contribute to building a more harmonious Indonesian society.
Not only that, Andi's journey was also driven by his activity in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). As the former chairman of the Sharia Faculty Senate at IAIN Alauddin Makassar, he is known as a figure who explores interfaith dialog.
Andi's appointment as an Expert at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs in the fields of Law, Human Rights, and Religious Harmony is certainly proof that the Minister of Religious Affairs wants to afford such an expert who is superior in academic aspects and able to build a tolerant national character.
Jakarta, UIN News Online – The Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. K.H. Nasaruddin Umar, officially inaugurated five new special staff and five experts at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (January 6, 2025).
The following are the five special staff appointed by the Minister of Religious Affairs:
- Dr. Farid F. Saenong: Special Staff for Education, Community Organizations, and Religious Moderation.
- Dr. Drs. Ismail Cawidu, M.Si.: Special Staff for Public Policy, Media/Public Relations, and Human Resource Development.
- Gugun Gumilar, M.A., Ph.D.: Special Staff for Religious Harmony, Monitoring, and International Cooperation.
- Nona Gayatri Nasution, S.Si.: Special Staff for Education, Bureaucratic Reform, and Institutional Governance.
- Dr. Sutomo, S.P., M.Si.: Special Staff for Institutional Relations and Cooperation.
Meanwhile, the five experts appointed by the Minister are:
- Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung: Expert for Law, Human Rights, and Religious Harmony.
- Jojon Novandri: Expert for Religious Education and Affairs.
- Junisab Akbar: Expert for Civil Service Supervision and Oversight.
- Mhd. Ainul Yakin: Expert for Inter-Institutional Relations.
- Bunyamin M. Yapid: Expert for Hajj, Umrah, and International Cooperation.
Interestingly, two of the appointees are active lecturers at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta: Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung, S.H., M.H., and Dr. Drs. Ismail Cawidu, M.Si. Who are they, and what makes their appointment special?
Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung: Lecturer at UIN Jakarta’s Faculty of Sharia and Law Appointed as Expert
Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung, S.H., M.H., is a professor at the Faculty of Sharia and Law at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Born in Sengkang, South Sulawesi, on March 3, 1954, Prof. Andi has an illustrious academic background.
His journey began with studies in hadith science at Al-Junaiddiyah Biru Modern Islamic Boarding School in Bone. Despite coming from a small village in South Sulawesi, his dedication to education was unwavering. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Sharia from IAIN Alauddin Makassar in 1980, followed by a Bachelor of Laws (S.H.) from Pattimura University (UNPATI) Ambon in 1995. He further obtained a Master of Laws (M.H.) from the University of Indonesia in 2000 and a doctorate (Dr.) in 2007, solidifying his reputation as a legal scholar.
Prof. Andi’s academic contributions extend beyond theory; he actively promotes values of moderation, inclusivity, and tolerance within the legal field. His works, including Ethics and Morals of Law Enforcement in Indonesia and Indonesian Harmony: A Practical Guide to Prevent Terrorism, are widely referenced by academics and legal practitioners.
His active role in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and experience as the former Senate Chair of the Sharia Faculty at IAIN Alauddin Makassar further highlight his dedication to interfaith dialogue and harmony. His appointment as an expert in law, human rights, and religious harmony reflects the Ministry’s commitment to fostering tolerance and justice in Indonesia.
Dr. Ismail Cawidu: Journalism Lecturer from UIN Jakarta Appointed as Special Staff
Dr. Drs. Ismail Cawidu, M.Si., is a lecturer in the Journalism Study Program at the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Known for encouraging students to develop critical and professional communication skills, Dr. Ismail has also made significant contributions in the field of communication and media.
In addition to his academic role, Dr. Ismail serves as Head of the Information and Public Relations Center at the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. With his expertise in media and journalism, he aims to ensure that the Ministry’s messages are effectively communicated to the public with accuracy and clarity.
Contributions from UIN Jakarta Lecturers for Indonesia’s Development
The appointment of these two UIN Jakarta lecturers underscores the increasing recognition of academia's role in shaping government policies. Prof. Dr. Andi Salman Maggalatung’s profound insights into law and Dr. Ismail Cawidu’s communication expertise bring invaluable contributions to the Ministry’s efforts to foster religious harmony and societal progress.
Their involvement signifies a vital collaboration between academia and government, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous Indonesia. Through their remarkable achievements, UIN Jakarta continues to play a pivotal role in addressing national challenges and advancing the country’s development.
(Alfina Ika Arianti/Aida Adha S./Muhamad Arifin Ilham)