Inayah Wahid: Reform is Drifting Away from its Original Values

Inayah Wulandari Wahid, daughter of the late fourth Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, has stated that the 1998 reforms have lost direction following President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to award the title of National Hero to former President Soeharto in November last year.

This statement was made by Inayah during a podcast on Dian Andryanto’s YouTube channel. During the discussion, Inayah responded to questions about the current state of the reforms and the values that were fought for in 1998.

“For me, the reform has been slowly moving backwards, step by step. And the last line was crossed last year, on November 10th, when a figure who was overthrown by the reform movement because he was considered undemocratic, because he was considered against the people, was declared a hero,” said Inayah, quoted on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

She stated that the reforms have “returned to square one” after Soeharto received the title of National Hero. According to her, this situation has resulted in those who previously opposed the New Order regime now being positioned as the wrongdoers.

“If a figure who was considered a villain at the time is now a hero, then the people who were against that villain are now the villains,” said Inayah.

During the conversation, Inayah also mentioned some of the activists from 1998 who are now part of the ruling elite. “Many of them disappeared on the streets while voicing the voice of the people. Now they have disappeared inside the palace,” she said.

President Prabowo awarded the title of National Hero to Soeharto during a ceremony at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on November 10, 2025. The decision was outlined in Presidential Decree Number 116/TK/Year 2025. On the same occasion, the government also designated Abdurrahman Wahid and Marsinah as National Heroes.

The awarding of the title to Soeharto at that time sparked public debate after it was announced by the government. His track record during the New Order era is often associated with alleged human rights violations and practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN). Criticism also came from civil society groups who felt that the decision contradicted the spirit of the 1998 reforms.

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