Gerindra: Bribery Case Should Not Drive a Wedge Between Prabowo and Gibran

Chairman of the Gerindra Party Central Executive Board, Bambang Haryadi, is confident that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka was not involved in the alleged bribery of the Bung Karno University (UBK) Student Executive Board (BEM). Bambang stated that the confession of former UBK Faculty of Law BEM Chairman Muhammad Abdimaludin, who admitted to receiving money after organising a ‘Tata Ulang Indonesia’ demonstration last week, does not necessarily implicate Gibran, who had met with the protesters.

‘This is still a one-sided confession from the UBK Faculty of Law BEM chairman. Let the process run its course. But I am sure there is no connection whatsoever to Mas Gibran,’ he said at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.

Bambang also assessed that Gibran does not need to provide clarification regarding the developing issue, as it is not part of the vice president’s duties. He further suggested the issue should not be entertained, suspecting it aims to divide Prabowo and Gibran.

‘Do not let this issue become an attempt to divide and create a rift or a chasm between the President and the Vice President,’ said the Secretary of the Gerindra faction in the House of Representatives.

He affirmed that the relationship between Prabowo and Gibran remains strong and mutually supportive. On that occasion, he reiterated the Gerindra faction’s support for the Prabowo-Gibran administration. ‘We always maintain and support the government of Mr Prabowo and Mas Gibran. Because this is one unified entity,’ he stated.

To date, there has been no official statement from Gibran Rakabuming Raka regarding the bribery money given to UBK students. The Acting Secretary of the Vice President, Al Muktabar, and the Vice President’s Special Staff, Suwardi, had not responded to requests for confirmation at the time this report was filed.

Previously, UBK Faculty of Law BEM Chairman Muhammad Abdimaludin admitted to receiving bribe money. The coordinator of the ‘Tata Ulang Indonesia’ protest claimed the money was given by a university alumnus through police officers. According to Abdimaludin, the alumnus requested that BEM UBK not force a demonstration in the State Palace area on 15 June and that the protesters agree to meet with Gibran at the Vice President’s Palace afterwards.

Abdimaludin admitted to using the bribe money for personal needs. He also said the money was distributed to two UBK alumni, his deputy, another individual named Mubarak, and the UBK Faculty of Economics BEM, with amounts ranging from Rp 2 million to Rp 2.5 million.

UBK has decided to suspend Abdimaludin’s student status. Vice Rector III Daniel Panda stated the suspension was enacted after the rectorate received Abdimaludin’s admission regarding the receipt of a bribe totalling Rp 20 million by the BEM leadership. ‘In accordance with the Rector’s statement, today we have suspended the individual concerned,’ Daniel said during a press conference at the UBK campus in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. Under this status, Abdimaludin is prohibited from conducting any activities on behalf of BEM UBK or the university until the official investigation is concluded. Daniel explained that the university will summon and examine several witnesses and parties suspected of involvement in the alleged bribery case related to the BEM UBK demonstration on 15 June.