Key facts
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto appointed 24 new members to his advisory council on Friday.
- The new council members include billionaires Dato Sri Tahir and Chairul Tanjung.
- Two former leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, were appointed.
- Four senior politicians from Prabowo's coalition partners, three of whom are former cabinet ministers, were also appointed.
- Anwar Usman, who was removed as Constitutional Court chief justice over an ethics violation, was appointed to the council.
JAKARTA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto appointed 24 new members to his advisory council on Friday, a move analysts suggest is aimed at bolstering his political power amid declining approval ratings. The appointments include prominent local billionaires, influential former leaders of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, and senior politicians.
Among the new appointees are Dato Sri Tahir, founder of Mayapada Group, and Chairul Tanjung, founder of CT Corp, whose business empires span finance, media, retail, and hospitality. The council also welcomed two former leaders from Nahdlatul Ulama and four senior politicians from Prabowo's coalition partners, three of whom have prior experience as cabinet ministers.
The advisory council, established in 2006, had not seen new members appointed during Prabowo's first two years in office. These personnel changes follow two cabinet reshuffles within three weeks, which saw new finance and foreign ministers installed.
Pratikno, the council's head, stated that the appointments offer an "extraordinary opportunity to share our experiences." Arya Fernandes, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, commented that the appointments are intended to shore up Prabowo's political base amidst concerns about his administration's policymaking. Fernandes added that "the big homework is ensuring that this advisory council truly plays a role in formulating strategic policies."
Notably, the council also includes Anwar Usman, who was previously removed as Constitutional Court chief justice due to an ethics violation. This violation occurred in a case that enabled his nephew, current Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to become Prabowo's running mate in the 2024 election, despite not meeting the required qualifications.