PRESIDENT PRABOWO DENIES BEING INFLUENCED BY JOKOWI

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, 6 Nov (Bernama) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has denied that he is still being influenced by former president Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, in his administration, stressing that such speculation is unfounded.

He also rejected allegations that he is afraid of, or still being controlled by Jokowi, explaining instead that their relationship remains good as friends.

"Pak Jokowi has never asked anything from me. Why should I be afraid of him? He (Jokowi) is my friend,” he said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Lotte Chemical Indonesia factory in Cilegon, Banten on Thursday.

Prabowo also praised Jokowi’s decade-long leadership in managing economic growth and inflation throughout his administration.

He said that plans for the construction of the nearly US$4 billion (US$1 = RM4.18) petrochemical production facility by South Korea’s Lotte Chemical began during Jokowi’s administration.

Meanwhile, he also criticised what he described as an unhealthy political culture, where leaders are often attacked when they are out of power but praised only when they hold office.

“Let us learn to respect the contributions of all public figures and leaders. Leaders are human — are they perfect? Of course not,” he said.

Prabowo has previously denied claims of a rift with Jokowi on several occasions, most recently when speaking at the closing of the 6th Parti Amanat Nasional Congress last August.

He won the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres) and officially assumed the office of President of Indonesia from Jokowi on Oct 20, 2024.

Political analysts believe that Prabowo, who was once Jokowi’s rival in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, is indebted to him, as he was appointed Defence Minister after the fiercely contested 2019 election.

Furthermore, Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who was chosen by Prabowo as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election, is seen by many as a major contributor to Prabowo's victory over his two opponents.

-- BERNAMA