18-9-2024 (JAKARTA) A storm of controversy has engulfed Indonesian politics as old online posts, purportedly linked to Vice-President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, have resurfaced on social media. The posts, which contain disparaging remarks about political figures including incoming President Prabowo Subianto, have raised questions about the future working relationship between the two leaders.
The posts in question originate from an account called “Fufufafa” on Kaskus, a once-popular internet forum among Indonesian youth. Dating between 2014 and 2019, the posts appear to criticise Mr Prabowo and his family members, at a time when Mr Prabowo was a rival to Mr Gibran’s father, current President Joko Widodo, in two presidential elections.
While Mr Gibran has denied ownership of the account, internet sleuths claim to have found connections, including an email address allegedly linked to Mr Gibran’s catering firm in Solo city. Adding to the intrigue, over 2,000 posts from the account have reportedly been deleted, according to news outlet Suara.
Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Informatics, Budi Arie Setiadi, initially stated that his office had investigated the account and determined it did not belong to Mr Gibran. However, the minister’s subsequent reluctance to discuss the matter further has only fuelled public curiosity.
Social media experts have weighed in on the controversy. Enda Nasution, a prominent figure in the field, stated that it would be “almost impossible” to definitively identify the account owner without forensic evidence. Meanwhile, Ismail Fahmi, founder of AI-based social media monitoring tool Drone Emprit, noted that online discussions about the account have been predominantly negative and polarising.
Despite the uproar, Mr Prabowo’s Gerindra Party has downplayed the impact on the relationship between the incoming president and vice-president. Gerindra’s executive chairman, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, insisted that the issue has not been a topic of discussion within the party.
Political observers, while acknowledging the potential for personal friction, do not foresee any constitutional obstacles to the duo’s inauguration on 20 October. Dr Ambang Priyonggo from Multimedia Nusantara University suggested that while there may be no political ramifications, the controversy could affect the personal dynamic between Mr Prabowo and Mr Gibran.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about politicians’ digital footprints. Recent examples include controversial old tweets by Jakarta gubernatorial candidates Ridwan Kamil and Pramono Anung, which have resurfaced and prompted public apologies.
