FH USU Public Relations: Thursday (October 1, 2026), the Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FH USU), in collaboration with the Indonesian Life Insurance Association (AAJI) and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), organized a discussion forum entitled “Insurance vs. Legal Cases” at the Ballroom of Four Points by Sheraton Medan Hotel. The activity brought together insurance industry practitioners, regulators, law enforcement officials, advocates, and academics from various higher education institutions in Medan.

The discussion forum had previously been postponed due to the eruption disaster of Anak Gunung Krakatau that affected several fellow Indonesians. In his remarks, Dean of FH USU, Dr. Mahmul Siregar, S.H., M.Hum., invited all attendees to pray that those affected by the disaster would be given ease and assistance.

In his remarks, Dr. Mahmul expressed his gratitude and appreciation to AAJI for entrusting FH USU with the opportunity to collaborate in organizing the scientific forum. He hoped that cooperation between FH USU and AAJI would continue to provide benefits for society, the nation, and the state.

According to him, this collaboration is important for the academic world, particularly FH USU. One of the priority programs of Universitas Sumatera Utara is learning innovation, which requires the direct involvement of relevant industries. Through this collaboration, academics can connect directly with the realities of legal issues faced by the business world.

“This will provide feedback for us to improve the learning process, learning methods, and curriculum based on the realities of law in society,” said Dr. Mahmul.

He also emphasized that activities of this kind serve as a medium for academics to contribute ideas to national legal development. One of the parameters of a university's reputation, he continued, is the number of lecturers and researchers who contribute to legal development and whose work is utilized by stakeholders, including the industrial sector.

Dr. Mahmul explained that insurance and the economic progress of a country have a symbiotic relationship. The insurance sector not only functions to protect society from financial risks but also serves as one of the drivers of long-term macroeconomic growth through capital accumulation, long-term investment, risk transfer, job creation, and contributions to state revenue through taxes. Countries with advanced insurance industries will have stable economies that are resilient in facing financial shocks.

The Dean of FH USU emphasized that the insurance industry is a trust-based industry. He cited data showing that the Insurance Literacy Index stood at 45.45 percent, while the Insurance Inclusion Index had only reached 28.50 percent. This gap indicates that many people already understand the function of life insurance but still refrain from purchasing it due to purchasing power considerations and caution regarding the industry's track record in the past.

According to Dr. Mahmul, law plays a significant role in influencing the level of public trust. When disputes or legal cases emerge in the public sphere, public trust can decline sharply and directly affect purchasing interest. Conversely, law enforcement and regulations that provide legal certainty serve as the main foundation for restoring such trust.

“Law is not only a source of problems when violations occur, but also a remedy for restoring public trust in the insurance industry through legal certainty,” he emphasized.

In addition to the Dean of FH USU, the activity was attended by the Head of the Directorate of Special Examination of Insurance, Guarantee, and Pension Funds at OJK, Dr. Rianto, S.E., M.Ak., as well as the Head of the Legal Division of AAJI, Robbi Yanuar Walid, along with a delegation from Jakarta. The speakers included Head of the Legal Department of AAJI Eric Tobing; Senior Expert in Indonesian Insurance Law and Member of the AAJI Supervisory Board, Dr. Ricardo Simanjuntak, S.H., LL.M.; as well as representatives of law enforcement agencies and OJK. The discussion was moderated by Maria Rosalinda, Head of the Compliance Department of AAJI.

At the end of his remarks, Dr. Mahmul hoped that the forum would not only serve as an opportunity to strengthen relationships but also make a tangible contribution to the advancement of the insurance industry and public protection. He once again expressed his gratitude to AAJI, OJK, and all parties who made the activity possible.