The Track Record of Jusuf Hamka: Former Jokowi Campaigner Now Appointed by Prabowo to Presidential Advisory Council

Mohammad Jusuf Hamka has returned to the spotlight after President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated him as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimlampres) at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (2/10/2026). The figure, more commonly known as Babah Alun, has taken on a new role within the government following a long journey as an entrepreneur, social figure, and former participant in practical politics.

Jusuf Hamka is not a new name on the national political stage. He was previously part of the National Campaign Team (TKN) for Joko Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin during the 2019 Presidential Election.

Some years later, he returned to political prominence when his name was pushed for the 2024 Jakarta Regional Election. Now, that journey has led him to a different position, as he has been entrusted to serve as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council in the Prabowo administration.

Regarding the appointment, the story began on Friday morning. Jusuf Hamka revealed that he received a phone call from Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya at 06:35 WIB.

The call took him by surprise. He subsequently received information that President Prabowo requested his assistance in supporting the President’s work as a member of the Council.

“At 6:35 AM, I was called by the Cabinet Secretary. I was shocked. I simply said, Alhamdulillah, Sir, the country trusts me,” Jusuf Hamka told reporters.

For Jusuf Hamka, the request did not require much deliberation. He stated that a duty to the state is a form of service that must be fulfilled.

“If the state asks, it cannot be refused. We must serve,” he said.

He then proceeded to the Palace alongside several other figures scheduled for the inauguration. This appointment marks a new chapter in the career of Jusuf Hamka, who has long been recognised as a toll road entrepreneur.

Long before being appointed by Prabowo, Jusuf Hamka had already engaged with national politics. During the 2019 Presidential Election, he was entrusted as the treasurer of the TKN for Joko Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin.

This involvement placed the entrepreneur, known for his simplicity, in the midst of the campaign activities for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. His name later resurfaced in political dynamics when he joined the Golkar Party.