PRIME NEWS POST 

The INDONESIAN — Former presidential candidate Anies Baswedan took a swipe at President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, claiming it has strayed further from the principles of integrity and meritocracy.

According to Anies, transactional practices in politics and bureaucracy have eroded professionalism, making public office appointments more about connections and political proximity than competence.

Anies made these remarks during his keynote speech at a National Dialogue organized by the Central Java People’s Movement (Gerak Rakyat) at the UTC Ballroom, Semarang, on Wednesday (October 8, 2025). He reiterated his criticisms in another public forum, the “National Dialogue: The People’s Voice”, held in Padang, on Saturday (November 1, 2025), where he questioned the government’s progress after one year or roughly 20 percent of its five-year term.

Anies highlighted three main concerns among the public: food security, employment, and the future.

Responding to the criticism, Sandri Rumanama, Director of the Haidar Alwi Institute, dismissed Anies’ statements as emotional and lacking substance.

“I think his criticism sounds more emotional than substantial. Political positions, by nature, require political connections. Yet, what I’ve seen from the current Red-and-White Cabinet is already quite professional. Which positions exactly does he consider unprofessional?” Sandri remarked.

Sandri, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Central Board of the Muslim Students Union of Indonesia (PB SEMMI), asserted that around 20 percent of the Prabowo–Gibran administration’s campaign promises have already been fulfilled.

“In just one year, the government has realized about 20 percent of its promises, which shows progressive performance and concrete achievements,” he said.

He added that the three core issues raised by Anies food, employment, and the future are already being addressed through various programs such as Food Self-Sufficiency, Free Nutritious Meals, People’s Schools, and the Red-and-White Cooperatives.

On employment, Sandri pointed out that the government’s initiatives to reduce unemployment including internship and labor-intensive programs have yielded measurable results.

“It’s very effective. Based on BPS (Statistics Indonesia) data, compared to August 2024, the open unemployment rate (TPT) in February 2025 decreased by 0.15%, reaching 4.76%,” Sandri explained.

He further noted that skill development programs such as Independent Workforce Initiatives, along with financial support schemes like Job Loss Insurance (JKP) and Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU), have empowered workers and job seekers.

“Additionally, local governments have launched initiatives such as virtual job fairs and employment information platforms to connect job seekers with available opportunities,” he added.

Sandri concluded by urging that criticism toward the government should be data-driven and constructive, rather than rhetorical.

“We all share the same duty as Mr. Anies to monitor and critique the Prabowo–Gibran administration but it must be based on data, facts, and reality, not mere political rhetoric,” Sandri emphasized.

Editorial Note: Journalist of PRIME NEWS POST, as reported from various sources / photo: special courtesy// Bem