Spokesperson Explains Reasons for JK Claiming Role Behind Jokowi Becoming President

Vice President 10th and 12th Jusuf Kalla (JK) stated that Joko Widodo (Jokowi) could become President because of him. JK’s spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, explained the reasons behind JK’s statement.

Husain Abdullah initially said that JK’s remark was made because he was often accused of being ungrateful to Jokowi, who appointed him as vice president in 2014. He said JK had been holding back on this matter for a long time.

“The explanation from Mr JK, which was delivered in a raised tone, was to convince Jokowi’s loyalists who often narrate that JK is ungrateful despite being appointed as Vice President by Jokowi. He has no gratitude towards Jokowi. JK was not emotional either. But JK had long restrained himself from opening up about this,” said Husain when contacted on Sunday (19/4/2026).

He said JK was forced to reveal his role, particularly regarding Jokowi’s candidacy in the 2012 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. He mentioned that JK played a key role in advancing Jokowi to the national stage in the capital.

“Finally, JK was compelled to reveal his role, how he brought Jokowi to Ibu Mega to be nominated as Jakarta Governor. JK realises that later, during the presidential contest process, many parties were involved. But the initial promotion of Jokowi to Ibu Mega to ‘perform’ in the capital as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate was inseparable from the role he played,” he said.

Husain conveyed that Jokowi’s fate might have been different if he had never worked in Jakarta. According to him, Jokowi got the opportunity to run in the 2014 presidential election because he became Jakarta Governor.

“So what JK conveyed is that Jokowi’s initial step in working in Jakarta opened the door for him to later become President of the Republic of Indonesia. Without this, his fate might have been different. Because after becoming Governor, Jokowi was then nominated as President by Ibu Mega,” he explained.

“But at that time, Ibu Mega was unwilling to approve Jokowi’s candidacy unless JK was his running mate. Because Jokowi was considered inexperienced even though his electability was high to compete with Prabowo. Thus, Mr JK became Jokowi’s Vice President,” he continued.

Husain emphasised that it was not Jokowi who determined JK as his partner. He assured that it was directly at the request of PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

“The important note here is that it was not Jokowi who determined JK as his partner, but directly at the request of Ibu Mega as PDIP General Chair to JK to accompany Jokowi (whom she considered inexperienced at the time). Once again, Ibu Mega did not want to sign Jokowi’s candidacy unless paired with M. Jusuf Kalla. So who actually owes gratitude? Moreover, throughout the administration accompanying Jokowi, in several crucial moments JK often put himself on the line for Jokowi,” he said.

JK’s Statement

Jusuf Kalla (JK) expressed his annoyance over Rismon Sianipar’s accusation that he funded the diploma case of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). JK then reminded of his role behind Jokowi’s career up to becoming the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia.

This statement was made by JK when he was asked about the police report regarding his lecture video on ‘dying as a martyr’ at UGM. JK was asked whether he felt politicised or not with this case.

Then, JK replied by saying he did not want to speculate. However, he felt this issue arose after he reported Rismon Sianipar to the police regarding the allegation of funding Jokowi’s diploma case.

JK revealed that he was contacted several times by Rismon and Roy Suryo, but he always refused, because he wanted to remain neutral, given the fake diploma allegation case against Jokowi was heated. He also expressed his frustration about this fake diploma issue dragging on, thus implicating several names.

JK then spoke about his important role in Jokowi’s political career. JK said he was the one who brought Jokowi from Solo to Jakarta.

JK said he was the one who proposed Jokowi’s name to PDIP Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri in the Jakarta regional head election (pilkada). He even said that Jokowi became the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia because of him.

“Tell all those ‘termuls’ that, Jokowi became president because of me,” JK asserted firmly.