November 1, 2023
MANADO – There are three hopefuls in Indonesia vying for the top office, but private car driver Daniel Grega from Manado, North Sulawesi, is not able to recall their full names, much less their political leanings or what parties they belong to.
There is no need to know so much, said Mr Daniel who is in his 40s, because he is leaving it to someone else to decide for him.
“Why do I need to know all this? I’m just going to go with who Pak Jokowi tells me to vote for,” he says, referring to the commonly used name for President Joko Widodo.
Mr Daniel is not alone, and that is a testament to how influential Mr Widodo is, especially when people vote for a president and vice-president in February 2024.
The candidates competing to be president are Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, 55, and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, 54.
Mr Widodo’s approval rating, which currently exceeds 70 per cent, is an impressive feat for a president with just 11 months left in office. He marked his ninth year in October.
This massive influence stems from factors such as how he has improved infrastructure in remote parts of the country and his regular interaction with ordinary people.
In remote North Sulawesi, for instance, Mr Widodo in 2019 inaugurated three special economic zones, aiming to promote economic growth and investment in the region. He also pushed for the airport in the city of Likupang to be improved to boost tourism, and went there in January to inspect the airport as well as other locations in the area.
In the fishing town of Labuan Bajo, located at the edge of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which is more than a two-hour flight from Jakarta, residents were all smiles in May when their home town became the focus of the world as it hosted the 42nd Asean Summit. This decision by Mr Widodo put the destination on the global map, and encouraged visitors to explore its natural wonders such as the native Komodo dragons and pink sand beaches.
“Only after Pak Jokowi became president did people know about NTT. No one cared before that, so we are very thankful,” said Mr Rudy, a security officer in a hotel in Labuan Bajo who, like some Indonesians, goes by only one name.
“He made sure we have good roads, so people can come. Pak Jokowi took care of us, so whoever he chooses will continue to take care of us too,” Mr Rudy, who is in his 30s, added.
Beyond improving infrastructure, voters also highlight how Mr Widodo makes it a point to meet people on the ground and hear their concerns.
For the past nine years, he has regularly carried out his famous blusukan, or unannounced visits, to personally check on places such as government offices, traditional markets, malls or even disaster zones and forest fire hot spots.
Restaurant service staff Galang Winarno in Bitung in North Sulawesi said that the President visited his city in 2019, and he recalled how thousands turned up to see him.
“I don’t know any other leader who does this. He will endorse someone who will carry on his level of caring for the people, so I will listen to him,” said Mr Galang.
While experts largely agree that the outgoing President deserves his high approval numbers, some have pointed out that the picture being painted may not be the most complete one.
Mr Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow in the Indonesia Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said that Mr Widodo commands a dedicated and faithful following, given how he secured victory by positioning himself as an everyday person, in stark contrast to the political elite.
“It’s undeniable that Jokowi is a popular president who has delivered on some of his campaign promises. Many people have witnessed significant infrastructure development and major projects taking shape during his presidency,” added Mr Made.
But he noted that the benefits are not evenly distributed, and that the absence of a robust opposition, as well as a limited influence of independent voices from civil society, means that the President’s accomplishments are extolled while the negative consequences of infrastructure development are minimised.
For example, in September, violent clashes between the authorities and residents in Rempang Island, located near Batam, erupted after villagers were ordered to move out to make way for a multibillion-dollar China-funded investment project.
Recently, concerns have been raised about alleged attempts by Mr Widodo to interfere in elections.
“Jokowi’s intervention in placing his children in pivotal roles carries negative consequences for democracy on both substantial and trivial levels,” said Mr Made.
“It appears that his confidence in his influence may be leading him to take actions that risk undermining the democratic process.”
Mr Widodo’s elder son, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 36, was earlier in October announced as the vice-presidential candidate for front runner Prabowo.
With Mr Widodo’s other son, Mr Kaesang Pangarep, 28, serving as chairman of the influential Indonesian Solidarity Party, some see the President as seeking to build a political dynasty as he approaches the end of his term.
Mr Dedi Dinarto, lead Indonesia analyst at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel, said that this move to field Mr Gibran as a vice-presidential candidate raises concerns regarding Mr Widodo’s exercise of power and influence to advance his family’s political interests.
“The perception that he is involved in the process in his capacity as the president, if true, is unprecedented,” he said.
Such criticisms have been dismissed by the President, who has said that the people will decide on who their leaders will be.
Mr Widodo has yet to declare his support for any candidate. On Monday, he hosted the three candidates for lunch at the Presidential Palace, in a move to signal his neutrality.
But not everyone is convinced. On Tuesday, English daily The Jakarta Post said that the lunch has been largely met with indifference and accusations of insincerity, given the “stark evidence” that he has been giving preferential treatment to select candidates.