July 29, 2024
JAKARTA – Three months before being sworn in as Indonesia’s next president, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto appears to be taking early steps to solidify his control over strategic state institutions, as a growing list of figures in his political circle take on key posts at ministries and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Prabowo will only officially start working in October when outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ends his second and final five-year term.
Yet, some figures close to Prabowo and to the Gerindra Party have already assumed positions in SOEs and in Jokowi’s cabinet.
Among them are Burhanuddin Abdullah, a renowned economist who heads the expert council of Prabowo’s presidential campaign, and Andi Arief, a close aide to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from whom Prabowo has often sought advice.
On Tuesday, Burhanuddin was named the new president commissioner of state-owned electricity company PLN by SOEs Minister Erick Thohir. Andi was also appointed as one of the electricity firm’s commissioners.
Once considered for the vice presidential position on Prabowo’s ticket in the February presidential election, Erick has reportedly been among several potential figures that Jokowi proposed to Prabowo for the latter’s cabinet in the incoming administration.
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Burhanuddin and Andi’s appointments followed a long list of Prabowo’s presidential campaign aides being tapped for key positions at several SOEs following his election victory.
Other figures include Simon Aloysius Mantri, a Gerindra politician and deputy treasurer of the Prabowo campaign team who was recently named president commissioner of state-owned energy giant Pertamina. Fuad Bawazier, also a Gerindra member, was appointed as the president commissioner of state-owned mining holding company MIND ID.
A report by Tempo magazine published last week cited unnamed sources close to Prabowo claiming that the president-elect had asked in April his close ally Fadjar Prasetyo, former Air Force chief of staff, to help manage national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia. A month later, he was appointed to the airline’s board of commissioners.
Tempo also pointed out that Prabowo had asked his nephew Thomas Djiwandono, who is also his advisor on fiscal issues, to start working as deputy finance minister to help with the government handover; a request Jokowi later agreed to.
Jokowi inaugurated Thomas last week in his new role, alongside Prabowo’s former aide Sudaryono as deputy agriculture minister.
The string of recent appointments might be intended to help prevent any political turbulence during the government transition and ensure synchronization for Jokowi administration’s vision in Prabowo’s incoming government, said political analyst Arifki Chaniago of think tank Aljabar Strategic.
“The fact that these appointments took place in Jokowi’s final months in office means that it was aimed to ensure stability and continuity when the transition of power takes place,” he said.
But the rising number of Prabowo’s close associates and Gerindra members taking leadership positions in SOEs and ministries months before the presidential inauguration may also be part of Prabowo’s long-term strategy to assert influence and to secure a political future.
“This is part of the political consolidation done by Gerindra and the president-elect to further strengthen their political position,” said Agung Baskoro, executive director of Trias Politika Strategis, adding that the main goal for Prabowo and his party is to hold the largest share of power in the next ruling coalition.
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He added that Prabowo may already be thinking about his second term and starting to consolidate resources before his presidency even begins, noting the incumbent status as an important political asset for reelection.
Ujang Komarudin, political science lecturer at Al-Azhar University in Jakarta, noted that giving strategic positions to Gerindra politicians and his inner circle was Prabowo’s way of getting a head start in consolidating state assets ahead of the 2029 presidential and legislative elections.
“That’s why such positions must be secured by those who are close to Prabowo,” he said.