The Moment Prabowo and Megawati Held Hands: The PDIP Chair Explains
The Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Central Executive Board, Said Abdullah, believes that the moment President Prabowo Subianto and the General Chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, Megawati Soekarnoputri, held hands during the commemoration of Pancasila Day was not a sudden occurrence. According to him, the closeness between the two figures is built upon a long-standing friendship, state-level trust, and shared views on national politics.
Said explained that the relationship between Megawati and Prabowo has spanned decades and has never been severed, even when the two have occupied different political positions. “I need to explain that the relationship between Mrs Megawati and President Prablamo can be viewed through several aspects,” Said told the media in Jakarta on Tuesday (2/6/2026).
He explained that the first aspect is their long-term friendship. Both are friends of many decades and even campaigned together in the 2009 Presidential Election as a presidential and vice-presidential candidate pair. According to the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee, their friendship has remained intact even after the 2009 election ended, including when PDI Perjuangan endorsed Joko Widodo in the 2014 Presidential Election, facing Prabowo in political competition.
“Their relationship continues to run well. Their friendship is solid, and it is not limited to the frequent meetings seen by the public. Their friendship is sincere and without flaw,” he said.
Beyond their personal connection, Said assessed that the closeness between Megawati and Prabowo is also based on trust in state affairs. He cited President Prabowo’s decision to continue entrusting Megawati as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Agency for the Strengthening of Pancasila Ideology (BPIP) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Said noted that despite the change in presidency and the fact that PDI Perjuangan is not part of the government, President Prabowo has maintained these state duties for Megawati. “This shows that President Prabowo views Mrs Megawati as possessing a statesmanlike capacity that is very important for the nation,” he remarked.
According to Said, both figures share the view that strategic institutions such as BPIP must be led by statesmen who possess a strong commitment to preserving and instilling Pancasila values. He mentioned that both share the conviction that matters regarding Pancasila transcend all other concerns. This shared persistence in instilling Pancasila values serves as a powerful common ground. “Therefore, the warmth visible during the Pancasila Day commemoration is a manifestation of that shared commitment,” he concluded.