Idrus Marham Condemns Provocative Narratives Targeting Prabowo's Government

Jakarta – Golkar Party Deputy General Chairman Idrus Marham has condemned tendentious political narratives that target the government and the condition of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

According to him, such narratives must not be allowed to spread unchecked as they have the potential to disrupt national stability.

“Indonesia must not fall into the same trap. We must learn from global experiences that instability often begins with irresponsible, counterproductive narratives,” Idrus told reporters on Monday, 6 April 2026.

Public attention has been drawn following Islah Bahrawi’s statement claiming a decline in President Prabowo’s cognitive capacity.

In his view, the current national leadership condition is seen as the source of various problems, including the emergence of fear and pressure among the public. He considered a change in leadership as the solution.

“If we talk about the concept, the source of the political order lies with the leader. Therefore, change must occur there,” he stated.

On the other hand, Syaiful Mujani’s statement, perceived as alluding to the issue of toppling the president, has further muddied the situation. Although Syaiful has denied it and claimed his statement was taken out of context, the public debate has already widened.

For Idrus, this issue is not merely a difference of opinion but concerns political communication ethics in the public sphere. He assessed that, as intellectuals, every statement should consider broader social and political impacts.

“In the context of dynamic politics, such narratives can be wildly misinterpreted. This is not just about right or wrong, but about the impacts caused,” he said.

Idrus then affirmed that Indonesian democracy has clear constitutional mechanisms in the process of transferring power. He reminded that the issue of presidential impeachment cannot be built on opinions or speculation.

“Impeachment is a serious process. There are lengthy constitutional stages—through the DPR, the Constitutional Court, to the MPR. It cannot be driven by public opinion or provocative, incomplete narratives,” Idrus explained.

In a more fundamental explanation, Idrus highlighted how today’s public communication reality shows that incomplete, edited, or provocatively presented information can shape biased public perceptions, accelerate polarisation, and damage trust in democratic institutions.