PAN Deems Saiful Mujani's Statement on Prabowo as Having No Significant Impact
Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Viva Yoga Mauladi has responded to the viral statement by political analyst Saiful Mujani regarding his desire to topple President Prabowo Subianto. Viva Yoga stated that the remarks from the founder of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) have no significant impact.
“Saiful Mujani’s statement need not be worried about too deeply, as it is merely like a grain of sand in the ocean, not a wave. Oppositional narratives and thoughts, like those of Saiful Mujani, will always exist and develop in every national leadership regime,” Viva Yoga told reporters on Wednesday (8/4/2026).
Viva Yoga claimed that the majority of Indonesians appreciate and are satisfied with President Prabowo’s performance. He stated that PAN will stand with Prabowo in guiding the government.
“PAN believes that currently, the majority of Indonesian society appreciates and feels satisfied with President Prabowo’s performance. This can be seen from several survey results. PAN will continue to strive together with President Prabowo to fulfil the promises of independence,” he said.
He deemed it natural for there to be shortcomings in Prabowo’s leadership. Viva Yoga alluded to a country spanning 5.2 million square kilometres with a population of 288 million souls.
He stated that Saiful Mujani’s quip has no significant impact. Viva said that an intellectual should convey knowledge with critical reasoning.
“Saiful Mujani’s quip or statement will not have a significant impact on influencing the national political climate. Because as an intellectual, Mas Saiful Mujani does not have a large and fanatical base, unlike Nurcholish Madjid or Gus Dur,” Viva remarked.
“An intellectual should be someone who uses knowledge and critical reasoning to understand, critique, and guide societal life. They should side with the truth and possess integrity in real life,” he added.
Saiful Mujani’s Explanation
Saiful Mujani has spoken out regarding a viral video clip of himself discussing toppling President Prabowo Subianto. Saiful Mujani stated that there is no word of treason in his political statement.
The excerpt of Saiful Mujani’s statement on Prabowo’s leadership went viral on social media. In the circulating video, the founder of the survey institute Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) spoke about toppling Prabowo.
“My alternative is not, not through formal procedures like impeachment, that won’t work. The only way is, can we consolidate ourselves to topple Prabowo, that’s it. If advising Prabowo doesn’t work either, the only option is to bring him down. That’s saving, not saving Prabowo, but saving ourselves and this nation,” Saiful Mujani said in the viral video, viewed on Tuesday (5/4/2026).
Saiful Mujani responded to his viral statement. He described the remarks as addressing President Prabowo’s comments about disciplining analysts.
“My statement was at a halal bihalal event with the theme of halal bihalal for analysts who are to be disciplined. I spoke at the end, in the closing. Previously, several friends had spoken, such as Ubaidillah Badrun, Doktor Sukidi, Romo Setyo, Ferry Amsari, Islah Bahrawi, and others. All of them provided evaluative views on the president’s performance, who has been working for more than a year,” Saiful Mujani said when asked for confirmation.
“Specifically putting pressure on the threats to activists and analysts following Prabowo’s statement about disciplining analysts according to the intelligence data he has as president,” he added.
He said the statement in the video was a political stance as a citizen, academic, or political science expert. Saiful Mujani stated that freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution.
“Including my statement of stance that President Prabowo must be brought down as a response to the cumulative national political conditions under his leadership,” Mujani said.
He emphasised that there is no word of treason in the statement delivered. He assessed that those accusing him of treason might have misunderstood.
“There is no word ‘treason’ in my statement of stance; what there is, is an expression of my freedom of speech, opinion, and assembly with the friends present. All of that is our political right as citizens, guaranteed by the Constitution. The word treason was used by a KSP staffer posted on social media. Perhaps a misunderstanding or lack of understanding of citizens’ political rights. Treason is legal terminology,” he said.
Saiful Mujani then alluded to the meaning of treason in the new Criminal Code. He stated that he is quite knowledgeable about what can and cannot be done as a citizen.
“Look at the new Criminal Code, what is meant by treason. Expressing opinions, taking stances, and gathering, including regarding the idea of bringing down the president, is a political right of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution. According to the new Criminal Code, treason involves physical actions attacking or injuring the president, separatism, and so on,” Saiful Mujani said.
“What I conveyed is far from the requirements of treason. I am quite knowledgeable about what is permissible and what is not in the context of being a citizen,” he continued.