Jakarta Stays Mum on Jokowi's Health Amid Public Worry

Speculation Mounts Over Ex-President's Skin Condition After He Skips Major Events

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JAKARTA - Speculation continues to mount over the health of former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as government officials remain tight-lipped and offer little clarity about the medical care typically extended to former heads of state.

Mr. Widodo, who stepped down from office in October 2024, has been notably absent from major public events, including the recent 79th-anniversary celebration of the National Police, also known as Bhayangkara Day, attended by President Prabowo Subianto and other former presidents.

The 64-year-old, popularly known as Jokowi, has instead chosen to spend time in Bali with his wife and grandchildren, as indicated in his social media posts.

Senior politician and close confidant Luhut Pandjaitan visited Mr. Widodo and shared details of the visit on Instagram, significantly using an old photo rather than a recent one.

Mr. Luhut described the hour-long meeting, which included both their wives, as warm, noting that although Mr. Widodo has yet to fully recover, he remains in good spirits and continues to spend quality time with his family.