Prabowo's leg surgery sparks speculation over health, but could help him perform presidential duties better, say analysts
Speculation over Mr Prabowo Subianto’s health is not new. But his leg surgery in June has raised questions about incumbent president Joko Widodo’s influence should his son, incoming vice-president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, assume the top job.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo visits president-elect Prabowo Subianto in hospital. (Photo: Instagram/Jokowi)
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JAKARTA: News of Indonesia president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s leg surgery has triggered fresh speculation about his fitness to lead the country, but analysts say he has dispelled similar rumours in the past and could, in fact, be in better shape to carry out his duties as a result of the operation.
In an Instagram post on Sunday (Jun 30), Mr Prabowo said he underwent surgery in late June for a parachuting injury sustained in his left leg when he was a soldier in the 1980s.
"I realise and understand that the medical treatment I undergo is full of risks including risks to my life, I had to assure myself that it was for the sake of country and nation,” declared the defence minister, who is also chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).
The 72-year-old posted photos of himself and President Joko Widodo, who was visiting, at the Panglima Besar Soedirman National Defence Centre Hospital.
Mr Widodo posted the same photos on his own Instagram account and called on Indonesians to pray for Mr Prabowo's recovery.
"Let us pray for the recovery process after Mr Prabowo's major surgery, and God willing, he will be more ready to carry out his duties to serve the Indonesian people," Mr Widodo wrote.
Neither elaborated on what procedure Mr Prabowo underwent or the nature of his injury but by Monday afternoon, Mr Prabowo was up and about. He attended the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian police force in Jakarta and appeared to be walking well.
Gerindra deputy chairman Habiburokhman said that although Mr Prabowo has had the leg injury for a long time, the pain did not go away completely and could resurface decades later.
"This is what happened to Prabowo and a lot of our soldiers who have served in East Timor, in Papua, in difficult terrain," Mr Habiburokhman was quoted as saying by news outlet Kompas.
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RUMOURS BEGAN DURING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Concern and speculation over Mr Prabowo’s health are not new.
The oldest president-elect in Indonesia’s history, he will take over from Mr Widodo in October with the latter’s 36-year-old son, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka, serving as the country’s youngest vice-president ever.
Rumours have swirled ever since the presidential election campaign last year and include claims that Mr Prabowo suffered a stroke twice. Some media outlets reported that the stroke rumours came about after one side of his face appeared stiff when he spoke, and when he had to be carried around.
Gerindra's other deputy chairman Budisatrio Djiwandono dismissed the claims and said Mr Prabowo, who is his uncle, has never had a stroke or any serious illness.
"This is not true, very untrue," Mr Budisatrio said of the rumours, as quoted by Pikiran Rakyat.
Mr Prabowo’s health became an issue again in February this year when military observer Connie Rahakundini Bakrie claimed he would only lead as president for two years before being replaced by Mr Gibran, noted Mr Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)'s Centre for Politics.
A video circulating on social media shows Ms Connie claiming at a lecture that she had heard this directly from the Prabowo-Gibran campaign team chairman, Mr Rosan Roeslani. Mr Roslan, however, denied it and reported Ms Connie to the police for defamation.
The president-elect himself has made efforts to dispel speculation about his health, observers say.
"The issue of Prabowo's health has come and gone, especially since Prabowo himself has been (seen) trying to stay fit in some of his social media posts," Mr Wasisto told CNA. On the day of the presidential election on Feb 14, for instance, his campaign team issued photos of him swimming at home before heading out to monitor results of the quick count.
He also underwent a medical test by the General Election Commission (KPU) in October 2023 before he could officially qualify as a presidential candidate. The medical report declared him fit to run for the election.
Dr Cecep Hidayat, a political observer from the University of Indonesia, said the test was to ascertain whether the presidential and vice-presidential candidates were physically and mentally fit.
"This is one of the requirements that must be fulfilled before being declared qualified to participate in the election. All six candidates passed the test," Dr Cecep told CNA, referring to the three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2024 election.
FITTER FOR THE TOP JOB AFTER SURGERY?
After Mr Prabowo is sworn in as president in October, his health will continue to be monitored by the presidential medical team, added Dr Cecep.
Should he be unable to discharge his duties, the Indonesian constitution states that the vice-president will take over, said Dr Cecep.
If this happens, Mr Gibran will have the discretion to appoint his father as a key advisor, Mr Dedi Dinarto, lead Indonesia analyst at strategic advisory firm Global Counsel, told the South China Morning Post.
"If Gibran becomes president, Joko Widodo will likely serve as a key adviser to his administration, taking on whatever role his eldest son assigns to him," Mr Dedi said.
BRIN's Mr Wasisto said it would depend on Mr Widodo's political moves after he steps down as president.
"But, at least indirectly, Jokowi's influence on Gibran certainly exists because of the relationship between father and son," Mr Wasisto said, using Mr Widodo’s moniker.
Dr Ujang Komarudin, a political expert from the University of Al Azhar Indonesia, believes Mr Prabowo’s decision to undergo surgery will put him in a better position to do his job, and called on the public not to engage in negative speculation.
"Going for surgery is a natural thing as everyone must be sick (at some point) and no one has never been sick," Dr Ujang told CNA.
