Chair of the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Indonesian\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Honorary Affairs, Komaruddin\nWatubun, stressed that criticism of the government is not always\npleasant to hear. He responded to President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s earlier\nadmission of feeling \u2018crestfallen\u2019 when confronted with criticism from\nPDIP members.<\/p>\n
\u2018Criticism is not always comfortable or pleasant to hear. But it\nshould be stressed that the criticism voiced by the PDI-P is not\nanti-personal hostility, but a form of political and moral\nresponsibility to the people,\u2019 Komaruddin said when contacted on\nThursday, 21 May 2026.<\/p>\n
A member of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR)\nstressed that PDIP\u2019s highest loyalty is not to an individual, but to the\nnation\u2019s interests, democracy, and the reform agenda. Therefore, PDIP\nbelieves a good political ally is one who dares to remind when a policy\nis considered to have deviated or not in the people\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n
Komaruddin cited criticism of the Free Nutritious Meals Programme\n(MBG). He said while the programme is good, its on-the-ground\nimplementation still has many problems. \u2018Implementation is flawed in\nmany respects and now it\u2019s proven, right? The President yesterday\nadmitted that he would halt several MBG kitchens,\u2019 he said, citing\nPrabowo\u2019s programme as one that needs criticising.<\/p>\n
Komaruddin believes that criticism, in essence, aims to correct\nsomething that strays from the ideal target. He hopes Prabowo will\naccept PDIP criticism as an important part of the democratic process.\n\u2018We hope the President does not see criticism as an attack, but as a\ncorrective energy to strengthen the government,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
In the DPR plenary in Parliament on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, Prabowo\nread the Macro-Economic Framework of the Main Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF)\nof the Draft APBN 2027 in front of ministers, DPR members, and several\nparty leaders. Toward the end of his two-hour speech, Prabowo touched on\nthe role of PDIP which did not join the government coalition.<\/p>\n
Prabowo expressed thanks to PDIP and said the bull party is making\nsacrifices. However, Prabowo said he was saddened to hear the various\ncriticisms voiced by PDIP deputies in the DPR. \u2018Sometimes, before I\nsleep at night, my heart is pained. These PDIP members\u2019 criticisms can\nbe quite harsh,\u2019 he said in his DPR plenary speech, Jakarta, on\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Over time, the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party realised that\nPDIP members\u2019 criticisms have particular reasons. He also said democracy\nrequires oversight and checks and balances. \u2018There is a saying that when\nsomeone reminds us, even if we do not like being warned, they are\nactually saving us,\u2019 the former Defence Minister said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo then expressed his wish that all political parties join the\ngovernment. He added that every leader must be willing to be criticised\nand that government performance must be overseen. \u2018Indeed, my aim is for\na cooperative effort. If all parties were in government, how sweet it\nwould be. How sweet it would be for me, but perhaps it would not be\ngood,\u2019 he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdip-elite-responds-to-prabowo-criticism-is-not-a-personal-attack-1779542675", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }