Remembering Panda Nababan

Senior PDI-P politician Panda Nababan has died. Relatives and colleagues have been remembering him and his life.

Panda Nababan died at his home in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, at 9.37am on Monday (9 November 2026), after battling leukaemia.

“It is true. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a fighter,” PDI-P politician Guntur Romli said.

Panda Nababan’s profile

Panda Nababan was born on 13 February 1944. He completed his education in Medan, North Sumatra, before moving to Jakarta to continue his studies at Bung Karno University in 1966.

He began his career as a journalist at the daily Warta Harian in 1969–70. In 1979, he had the opportunity to pursue further journalism studies at NRC Handelsblad in Rotterdam.

His career continued to advance: he was an editor at the daily Sinar Harapan from 1970 to 1987, then deputy managing editor of the daily Prioritas in 1987–88.

Panda also served as head of research and development at Media Indonesia in 1988–89. One of the high points of his journalistic career came in 1976, when he received the Adinegoro Journalism Award.

Panda entered politics in 1993, joining the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). In 1998, amid a leadership crisis at the PDI, he joined the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and became a member of the House of Representatives from its PDI Perjuangan faction.

Panda Nababan later became known as one of PDI-P’s leading figures. He had a longstanding historical relationship with PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

PDI-P remembers a campaigning journalist and fighting politician

PDI-P expressed its deep condolences over Panda Nababan’s death. The party’s secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, remembered him as a campaigning journalist and a fighting politician.

“Throughout his life, Mr Panda Nababan was known for his courage, steadfastness and commitment to democracy. His passing is a great loss, not only for his family and friends, but also for the press, PDI Perjuangan and Indonesia’s democratic life,” Hasto said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday (9 November 2026).

Hasto said Panda Nababan had combined many years of journalism with a political career. He said Panda showed sharp thinking, a critical outlook and the courage to speak the truth.

According to Hasto, Panda’s critical approach and resolve offered an important lesson: democracy must not lose its moral voice. Hasto specifically recalled Panda Nababan’s long struggle for democracy, including during the early years of the New Order government.

“Bang Panda was known for consistently paving the way for democracy. His struggle was evident not only when he stood alongside Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri in the PDI in opposition to the authoritarianism of the New Order,” Hasto said.

He referred to Panda Nababan’s experience of imprisonment during political struggles in the early New Order period. Hasto cited Ken Ward’s book NU, PDI, and the Violence of the 1971 Election, which discusses political dynamics and the exercise of power during the 1971 election.

“In the book, Bang Panda is said to have served a prison sentence alongside a Japanese journalist for opposing fraud in the first election of the New Order,” Hasto said.

Besides being known as a journalist and democracy campaigner, Panda Nababan had a talent for political communication and for bridging different views and factions within the party. Hasto described him as a fighter with broad experience, strong negotiating skills and a clear understanding of political dynamics and conflicts.

PDI-P will pay special tribute to Panda Nababan through the party’s protocols. Hasto said his death had left an important legacy for the next generation.

“Farewell, Bang Panda Nababan. The mark you left through your service is part of history; your courage is an example; and your fighting spirit will live on in the memory of all party cadres,” Hasto said.

Cak Imin remembers Panda Nababan as tireless in his fight for the people

National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, known as Cak Imin, remembered Panda Nababan as someone who never tired of fighting for the people. He said he was grateful to have had a good relationship with Panda.

“A public figure, a role model, a fighter who never tired of standing up for the truth and the people. Whether as a journalist, politician or writer, everything came down to commitment: commitment to the people and to the truth,” Cak Imin said at the family home in South Tangerang.

He said Panda Nababan was consistent and had always taught younger colleagues to be brave and strong.

“We spent a long time together in the House of Representatives. I saw him as a consistent person, above all courageous. He had courage, and he often taught me about courage too. He always taught us how to stay strong through the many waves of struggle,” he said.

“I have met Putra and his family, and I share their grief. I hope his children can continue his struggle,” he added.

Cak Imin said Panda Nababan often called him and had given him considerable advice.

“Yes, he often called me. In recent months, in particular, we spoke frequently about the situation. He would offer suggestions and give me advice,” he said.

An extraordinary senior colleague

Adian Napitupulu, a member of the House of Representatives from the PDI-P faction, remembered Panda Nababan as an unusual character. He recalled a conversation with Panda after he had graduated from university.

“He was a unique person, Bang Panda. After I finished university, he called me: ‘So, you’ve finished university; you’re a graduate now. What are your plans?’ I said, ‘I want to set up a law firm, Bang,’” Adian said.

Panda Nababan asked what problem Adian was facing at the time. Adian said he had not yet rented an office, and that the police raided it soon after it opened.

“‘Why did the police raid it?’ ‘Because of these demonstrations; they accused us of this and that.’ ‘All right, it’s fine to close it down. That’s cool,’” Adian recalled, imitating their conversation.

He remembered Panda Nababan’s advice that life was already mapped out and that his own task was simply to do good.

Adian said Panda was also an extraordinary senior colleague. He recalled that Panda had once turned up at his house early in the morning just to insist that he see a doctor.

“He cared so much about his juniors. Imagine: at his age, he came to my house early in the morning just to remind me to go to the doctor. To me, that was extraordinary,” he said.

Honesty and integrity

Former Jakarta governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat also remembered his senior colleague in PDI-P, Panda Nababan. He described him as a person of integrity who was straightforward.

“I had known Bang Panda for decades. He was a person of integrity, honest and straightforward, with the distinctive character of a Batak person: A is A, B is B,” Djarot said.

He said Panda Nababan was honest. Shortly before his death, Panda had discussed with him the controversy surrounding Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

“We discussed it recently. He often called me, especially to discuss the Constitutional Court ruling, which said that Gibran did not have a high-school or equivalent qualification,” he said.

“He reminded me that he had long said Gibran was a ‘green’ young man who was not fit to be vice-president. He said this repeatedly. He also said constitutional steps should be taken in Gibran’s case,” Djarot added.

Djarot said Panda Nababan’s death was a major loss. He also recalled Panda’s frequent lesson that the truth would always prevail.

“He was a great journalist. It is not only PDI Perjuangan that has lost Bang Panda Nababan; the whole Indonesian nation has lost him,” he said.

Rano recalls his last meeting with Panda Nababan

Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno remembered Panda Nababan as someone who often advised him on politics. Rano also recalled his last meeting with Panda and said he had received a message from him.

“We last met in person about six months ago; otherwise, we communicated on WhatsApp. I had heard that his condition had been declining recently, and he was 82,” he said.

“I had only just heard that he also had leukaemia. I heard the news this morning. I was supposed to meet Bang Putra this morning, but then Putra called to say, ‘Dad is ill.’ I thought he had been admitted to hospital. Not long afterwards, we heard in the group chat that he had died,” he added.

Rano said Panda was a good senior colleague who knew a great deal about history.

Their last in-person meeting was about six months earlier, when Panda visited Jakarta City Hall and stopped by Rano’s office, possibly to meet the governor. They chatted briefly for about ten minutes.

Rano said Panda had not given him much advice on that occasion, simply telling him to take care of his health.

“I said, ‘Yes, Opung.’ I call him Opung. We can only pray for the best,” he said.