16-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the prominent Indonesian tycoon and brother to politician Prabowo Subianto, is not shy about his unwavering support for his sibling. With the nomination period for Indonesia’s upcoming February presidential election drawing near, Prabowo, who currently serves as the nation’s defence minister and is a former commander of its special forces, is emerging as a frontrunner to succeed the incumbent leader, Joko Widodo.
In what appears to be a likely three-way race featuring Prabowo, former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, and the former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is now aligned with the opposition, securing Widodo’s endorsement is seen as a key determinant of the eventual victor. In an interview conducted at the Hong Kong-Asean Summit, Hashim emphasized his belief in his brother’s qualifications to lead Southeast Asia’s sole G20 economy. He pointed to Prabowo’s extensive international, military, and diplomatic experience, which distinguishes him from the other contenders.
Describing his famously assertive brother in three words, Hashim chose “visionary, honest, and less temperamental.” The Djojohadikusumo brothers come from a prominent Indonesian political family, and Hashim, with an estimated net worth of over US$600 million, has long been known for financing the Gerindra Party, which they co-founded. While he stressed that he doesn’t speak on his brother’s behalf, Hashim expressed a personal belief that President Widodo is leaning towards supporting Prabowo. He cited anecdotal evidence and recent signals from the Widodo camp to support his assertion.
One notable sign is the involvement of Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who currently serves as the mayor of Surakarta in Solo, where Widodo began his political career. Gibran has been discussed as a potential running mate for Prabowo for months and has been seen with the former general more frequently. Additionally, Projo, President Widodo’s extensive volunteer network, has indicated its support for Gibran as the next vice-president.
The ultimate decision on Gibran’s candidacy depends on a court ruling set for Monday, which will determine whether the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates will be lowered from 40 to 35. Gibran is 36 years old.
Hashim stated that around 90% of President Widodo’s volunteer supporters have declared their backing for Prabowo. He also highlighted that a group of Muslim clerics, who have supported Widodo for the past decade, recently threw their support behind Prabowo after a meeting with the president. This shift in allegiance is a strong indicator of Widodo’s likely public endorsement of Prabowo over Ganjar, who is a member of Widodo’s own party.
When asked about concerns over his brother’s controversial past, especially during his time in the military, Hashim dismissed the notion that it would hinder Prabowo’s electoral prospects. Despite facing allegations of involvement in the kidnapping of activists and accusations related to human rights violations during his military service, Prabowo has consistently denied wrongdoing and direct involvement in torture or mass killings.
Hashim noted that the elections are ultimately decided by the Indonesian voters, and the majority of the population has either forgiven or chosen to move forward from these issues. He referenced the example of democracy activist Budiman Sudjatmiko, who recently endorsed Prabowo.
Hashim also underscored a key aspect of his brother’s campaign – the commitment to policy continuity, including the ambitious plan to construct a new capital city, Nusantara, from scratch in East Kalimantan. This US$32 billion project aims to create an administrative capital similar to Washington or New Delhi.
Regarding foreign policy, Hashim suggested that Prabowo would maintain Indonesia’s long-standing policy of neutrality. He emphasized that Indonesia aims to be friendly with all nations and will refrain from being drawn into conflicts, drawing comparisons to countries like Switzerland and Sweden, which are not formally part of Western military alliances.
