Asman replaced Tadjudin as UI's rector on 16 February 1998 following an election by the university's academic senate. During his early months as rector, the student movement which demanded the resignation of Indonesia's longtime president Suharto was in full swing. Asman threw his support behind the movement by vacationing the students indefinitely and refused the education minister's demands to limit the protests. In May 1998, Asman, along with Tadjudin and other UI academicians, visited President Suharto at his residence to discuss about his resignation and succession. After Suharto resigned from the presidency, there were proposals from the students to form a collective government which consisted of academicians and other notable figures, including Asman. Asman continued to be involved in politics, and his role in Indonesian politics led to him being awarded an honorary degree in education and politics from Sōka University in October 2001.
