Megawati's Message on PDIP Lawsuit Against Zulfan Lindan

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has sent a message to the party’s Central Executive Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus regarding the lawsuit against former NasDem Party politician Zulfan Lindan. PDI-P is suing Zulfan Lindan and PT Temukan Perspektif Indonesia, which operates the Total Politics channel, for unlawful acts at the South Jakarta District Court. The party claims to have been harmed by Zulfan’s remarks in a podcast aired on 9 February 2026, which it considers defamatory. Deddy was tasked by Megawati to resolve the dispute before it proceeded to court. “Ibu only asks that justice be upheld. Ibu repeatedly sent me to mediate with Total Politik and with Zulfan Lindan,” he said when met at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Thursday, 16 July 2026. PDI-P objected to Zulfan Lindan’s statement suggesting that the party was willing to attack the government by participating in the August 2025 demonstrations. According to Zulfan, President Prabowo Subianto would always fulfil Megawati’s requests, including the return of Wisma Yaso, which is now the Satria Mandala Museum, Rp 200 billion in compensation for the house of first President Sukarno, and the release of PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto through an amnesty so he could attend the party’s sixth congress. Deddy denied Zulfan’s claims, particularly regarding the request to return Wisma Yaso to the Sukarno family. The House of Representatives Commission II member accused Zulfan of spreading slander without explaining the basis of his argument, which hurt the Sukarno family. “So there is no story of it being requested. This offends the family of Bung Karno, because we never begged,” he said. According to Deddy, the legal route was taken after they failed to resolve the dispute through the Press Council. He said Zulfan and Total Politics broke their promise to make a public apology video. “Because there has been no good faith despite repeated invitations to mediate, and there is a Press Council ruling that they still ignore. So they are all somewhat arrogant,” he said. On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, a PDI-P cadre named Abdul Rohman registered the lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court with case number 712/Pdt.G/2026/PN JKT.SEL. Besides Zulfan Lindan and PT Temukan Perspektif Indonesia, PDI-P is also suing Total Politics founders Arie Putra and Budi Adiputro. Tempo sent questions regarding this matter to Zulfan Lindan and Total Politics founder Budi Adiputro, but neither has responded. Based on the South Jakarta District Court Case Tracking System, in their petition, the plaintiffs demand that the panel of judges declare the defendants have committed defamation and punish them by requiring a public apology. The plaintiffs also demand that all videos related to the case be deleted and seek compensation of Rp 100 million.