Observer says about President Prabowo admits he was surprised Bahlil was appointed Investment Minister by Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto admitted that he was surprised when the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo or Jokowi, appointed Bahlil Lahadalia as Minister of Investment in the advanced Indonesian cabinet.

Even though Bahlil is not an alumnus of a foreign university and does not speak English. According to Prabowo, investment ministers usually graduate from universities in the United States or England.

“Usually the Minister of Investment is an American graduate. Harvard University or Stanford University. If it's not America, it's a British graduate. Oxford, Cambridge,” said Prabowo at the height of Golkar's 60th anniversary at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java, Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Bahlil, who is also the general chairman of the Golkar Party, is known to have obtained a bachelor's degree from the Port Numbay Jayapura College of Economics. He later earned a master's degree from Cendrawasih University in Jayapura. Prabowo said he once asked Bahlil about his educational alma mater. Bahlil, Prabowo said, even said his campus did not have a search page.

“Sir, my university is not on Google,” Prabowo said, imitating Bahlil’s words.

Prabowo also felt strange because Bahlil was from Papua. According to him, the position usually occupied with this origin is that of Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions. Prabowo then asked Bahlil how to talk to foreign investors. Bahlil, Prabowo said, apparently had four translators, namely English, Korean, Japanese and German.

“I asked you what happens when you meet foreign investors? I'm not asking you if your English is good or not. “He said there was no problem,” Prabowo said.

According to Prabowo, Bahlil is an intelligent person. Even though they haven't known each other for long, Prabowo admitted to being impressed by Jokowi's close friends. Last October, Bahlil was also summoned to Kartanegara, Prabowo's residence. The Minister of Investment, who was reshuffled by Jokowi to become Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources before his retirement, was invited by Prabowo to take the same position in his government.

“I have to admit that I am impressed by Brother Bahlil, really impressed. I saw his movements, his thoughts, his words and his opinions which were quite convincing. “It’s serious, serious,” he explained.

Prabowo's statement about his surprise at Bahlil's background sparked a number of responses. One of them is a political analyst from Forum News Network, Hersubeno Arief. In his opinion, he believes that the position of Minister of Investment has a great responsibility in attracting foreign investors to Indonesia.

Therefore, international communication skills, such as fluency in English, as well as an education acquired at a prestigious university, are often considered important prerequisites. Through a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, his party also questioned Jokowi's reasons for appointing Bahlil to control Indonesian investments.

“But how come someone like Bahlil was appointed Minister of Investment by Pak Jokowi?” Hersubeno said.

Hersubeno believes that Jokowi's decision to appoint Bahlil was likely based on considerations that were not solely technocratic. He said Bahlil's ability to build political connections and his influence within the national elite could be an important factor.

“Jokowi is known as a leader who often prioritizes loyalty and practical skills over pure academic qualifications,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to political observer Rocky Gerung, Pranowo's statement about Bahlil actually sparked public speculation about whether the head of state was praising or expressing sharp sarcasm. RG, Rocky's nickname, Prabowo's statement contains layers of meaning that describe hidden political maneuverings.

“Prabowo's speech is a kind of political ploy full of enigmas. “In politics, gimmicks like this aim to create different interpretations,” Rocky said in his video on Rocky Gerung's official YouTube channel, uploaded on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Apart from that, according to Rocky, Prabowo's gestures while talking about Bahlil were ambiguous. It sounds like a compliment, but there is an element of satire. For Rocky, this is a hallmark of Prabowo's style which is both entertaining and carries a serious message. In his speech, Prabowo mentioned the formation of Bahlil, which many considered a political joke.

“Is this a satire on Bahlil's academic controversy or just a praise for his success in climbing his career from the bottom,” Rocky said.

Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.

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