Shadow Cabinet Not Intending Subversion, Says Feri Amsari

Feri Amsari, Minister of State Secretary for the Shadow Cabinet, has stated that the group does not intend to overthrow the government or commit subversion. According to him, the formation of the Shadow Cabinet does not fulfil the elements of makar. “In our belief, none of the articles related to makar apply,” he said during a Shadow Cabinet press conference in Central Jakarta on Monday, 27 July 2026. Makar is regulated under Articles 104, 107, 108, and 109 of the Criminal Code concerning crimes against state security. The constitutional law expert said the Shadow Cabinet has not committed any of these offences. The Shadow Cabinet is not attempting to physically attack the president and vice president. It also does not seek to alter the structure of government or ministries. “We are not trying to change anything, we are merely imagining,” he said. The Shadow Cabinet is also not attempting to seize part or all of Indonesia’s territory, nor is it carrying out an armed coup. “We do not have weapons. We only have microphones,” he said. Nevertheless, he believes the Shadow Cabinet is a weapon of the people. The people, he said, only have the right to speak. “The right to speak is often frightening for an authoritarian government,” he said. Civil society, comprising academics and activists, formed the shadow cabinet. Several names have been selected to fill 15 ministerial positions in this rival cabinet to the Prabowo Subianto administration. Feri Amsari explained that this cabinet is not intended to seize power from the current Prabowo-led government. The formation of the shadow cabinet, he said, is a civil society response to the loss of checks and balances on the executive. He noted that there is no formal opposition capable of balancing the Merah Putih Cabinet, which is largely filled by political forces from the coalition parties. He added that Indonesia does not actually lack competent people who are ready and capable of running the government. “Unfortunately, this cannot be realised because it is held hostage by political interests,” Feri said in an official statement quoted on Saturday, 18 July 2026. Feri confirmed that the formation of this cabinet is free from the support of political parties or politicians. He stated that all work is voluntary and pro bono, or for the public interest.