Muhaimin Iskandar Compares Jokowi to Soeharto in Political Dynasty Context

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Muhaimin Iskandar, Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), compared the current President Joko Widodo or Jokowi with the former President Soeharto, specifically regarding the political dynasty.

Cak Imin, as he is familiarly known, highlighted the appointment of family members to government positions. He pointed out that during Soeharto's New Order regime, his daughter, Siti Hardijanti Hastuti Rukmana (Tutut Soeharto), was appointed Minister of Social Affairs in 1998. Shortly after Tutut's appointment, the Reformation movement erupted, ultimately leading to the downfall of Soeharto's government.

In the context of President Jokowi's administration, Cak Imin noted that the former Jakarta Governor encouraged his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run for Vice President in the 2024 election. Gibran was ultimately elected as Prabowo Subianto's running mate.

“In the past, we couldn't have imagined that Pak Harto, who was so powerful, would appoint his daughter as Minister of Social Affairs, and yet his government fell not long after,” he said at the PKB National Working Conference held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) Senayan on July 23d, 2024. “Now, Pak Jokowi can have his son become Vice President, and the country remains stable.”

Muhaimin himself participated in the 2024 presidential election as the Vice Presidential candidate for Anies Rasyid Baswedan. However, the Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md tickets lost the election to the Prabowo-Gibran pair. The winning candidates will be inaugurated as President and Vice President for the 2024-2029 term on October 20.

Despite the significant political shift brought about by the 2024 election, Cak Imin expressed his gratitude for Indonesia's continued stability and national unity. “We never imagined how our nation's political landscape, the foundations of our strength, could still be maintained,” he remarked.

Muhaimin also reminded his party of the importance of preventing societal conflict. 

“We must anticipate potential divisions and insecurities. The PKB must work to solidify a strong national ideology,” he concluded.

SAVERO ARISTIA WIENANTO

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