Gerindra on Observer Inflation: Analysts Say the Motive is to Seize Power
Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Habiburokhman, agrees with the statement by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya that Indonesia is experiencing a phenomenon of observer inflation. Teddy accused many observers of presenting data that does not match the facts on the ground.
“The statement by Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya that there is a phenomenon of observer inflation is true,” said Habiburokhman in a written statement on Monday, 13 April 2026.
According to the Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives, the government of President Prabowo Subianto has followed up on many criticisms levelled by observers. However, he believes not all inputs need to be addressed because some criticisms are intended to damage or poison the democratic climate under the leadership of the Gerindra Party’s General Chairman.
Habiburokhman accuses some observers who claim to be critics but instead deliver lies, propaganda, and hatred. “Their motive could simply be to seize power, either through constitutional or unconstitutional channels,” he said.
Therefore, he assesses that such criticisms need to be addressed by educating the public so that they do not become poison to democracy in Indonesia. He urges the public not to generalise in evaluating criticism because some is constructive and some is not.
Habiburokhman is convinced that Prabowo is committed to upholding democracy in his first term of leadership. “In nearly 1.5 years of President Prabowo’s rule, no Indonesian citizen has been punished for criticising or even insulting President Prabowo,” he stated.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya coined the term observer inflation when highlighting the presence of experts across various fields who frequently criticise the Head of State’s policies. According to Teddy, these observers lack the appropriate background for the issues they discuss, and their data does not match the conditions on the ground.
“Now, there is one phenomenon. What is it? There is something called observer inflation. So, there are many observers. There are rice observers, but their background is not in that area. There are military observers, foreign affairs observers. And these observers’ data does not match the facts. Their data is wrong,” said Teddy to the media at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Friday, 10 April 2026.
Teddy stated that most of these observers have been trying to shape public opinion since before Prabowo Subianto took office as president. However, Teddy claims that the facts show Prabowo successfully garnered more than 96 million votes in the 2024 presidential election.
Teddy claims the government does not reject criticism. For him, anyone may offer criticism. However, he warns against statements that could cause public anxiety.
He then claims that the situation in Indonesia is under control. Teddy emphasises that the government accepts input from the public. According to Teddy, the government is striving to improve and maximise its performance.
He reminds the public to have positive hopes and prayers for Indonesia. “Do not let us become people who instead encourage others to have negative hopes and prayers for the nation we love,” he said.