Democrat Reveals SBY's Halalbihalal Committee Did Not Invite Anies

Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan visited the residence of Indonesia’s sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. Deputy Secretary-General of the Democrat Party, Renanda Bachtar, stated that the event’s organising committee did not invite Anies, but the host still treated every guest well. “The committee did not invite him. However, as a good host, whoever comes, we treat them well,” Renanda told reporters on Wednesday (25/3/2026). Renanda mentioned that there was no conversation between Anies, SBY, and Democrat Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) during the meeting. He said they merely shook hands. “There was no conversation. It was just when Anies arrived and approached Mas AHY and Pak SBY, they shook hands. That’s all,” he said. SBY held the halalbihalal at his residence in Cikeas. Several figures attended, including the daughter of Indonesia’s fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), Yenny Wahid, and former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. The halalbihalal moment was uploaded to the Instagram account of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono’s (AHY) special staff, Merry Riana, on Sunday (22/3/2026). In the caption, Merry described the uploaded photos as moments from Eid in Cikeas. “First Eid in Cikeas. Please forgive my physical and spiritual shortcomings,” wrote Merry, as seen by detikcom on Tuesday (24/3). Several moments were uploaded, one of which showed Anies chatting with SBY and AHY. In that moment, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas) was seen near the three of them. Another moment uploaded by Merry Riana was AHY singing on stage. Yenny Wahid also contributed a song at the event.