Papua assignment puts V-P Gibran's place in the Prabowo govt in spotlight

Amid ongoing unease over his rise, move sparks talk he's being pushed to the political periphery

- Hariz Baharudin

Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's assignment to oversee development in Papua has triggered scrutiny over his role in President Prabowo Subianto's administration, as observers question whether the move reflects political trust or calculated marginalisation.

Mr Gibran was named head of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Development in Papua in early July, a post created under the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law to help coordinate development across ministries in the underdeveloped eastern region of the archipelago.

As committee head, he is tasked with aligning government programmes and directing cross-ministerial efforts in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.

The post, previously held by former vice-president Ma'ruf Amin, was designed to drive progress in an area that continues to grapple with poverty, conflict and underdevelopment.

Officials clarified on July 9 that Mr Gibran will not be based in Papua and that only the agency's secretariat staff will operate from the provincial capital of Jayapura.

Still, the assignment sparked early speculation that the 37-year-old was being pushed to the political periphery, away from Jakarta's policymaking centre.

The appointment followed renewed scrutiny of Mr Gibran's place in government, after a group of retired generals called for Parliament to consider his impeachment.

At the heart of their criticism was the Constitutional Court's 2023 ruling that changed age requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, which was seen by many as tailored to benefit Mr Gibran, the son of then President Joko Widodo.

The decision drew accusations of nepotism and judicial interference.

The impeachment talk has gained little traction, but it highlighted ongoing unease over Mr Gibran's political ascent, experts told The Straits Times.