West Java '98 Activists Urge Reformists to Introspect, Issue 8-Point Political Stance

Dozens of 1998 activists from Lingkar 98 West Java, together with the 98 Resolution Network, held a movement consolidation meeting and press conference at a restaurant in Bandung on Monday (6/7/2026). Exponents of the 1998 movement urged reformists to introspect on their contribution to political democracy over the 28 years since reformasi. Lingkar 98 West Java and the Resolution Network assess that the 1998 movement still has shortcomings, especially as political democratisation has not run simultaneously with economic democratisation. What is actually occurring, they argue, is a pseudo-democracy. “When natural resources are controlled by a handful of groups, a phenomenon we call ‘serakahnomic’ during the reform era, this amounts to hijacking political democracy and the livelihood of the people,” said 98 Resolution Network spokesperson Agus Teddy Sumantri to the media. As supporters of the Prabowo-Gibran administration, Lingkar 98 West Java asserted that Indonesia’s democratic system must be based on Socio-Democracy, not Western-style liberal democracy which only guarantees freedom at the ballot box. “This Western-style democracy ignores the people’s access to the nation’s wealth. Constitutionally, under Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, the country’s natural resources are regulated by the state to improve the people’s welfare,” said Teddy, the former chairman of the TKN Golf Prabowo-Gibran for West Java Province. Meanwhile, 98 Resolution Network activist Agustin Lumban Gaol outlined eight points of view and stance from Lingkar 98 West Java and the 98 Resolution Network to address the nation’s problems. Firstly, eradicating corruption from the upstream. Lingkar 98 West Java and the 98 Resolution Network fully support President Prabowo’s steps to carry out the reform mandate of ‘confiscating corruptors’ assets to subsidise the people’. “This is evidenced by the seizure of Rp 13.25 trillion in corruption funds related to CPO (Wilmar Group), the seizure of Rp 11.42 trillion related to administrative fines for forest area violations, and the seizure of Rp 920 billion and 51 kg of gold from Supreme Court case broker Zarof Ricar,” said Agustin. Also highlighted was the eradication of the oil and gas mafia involving Riza Chalid. The President has asserted that the seized funds will be used to build people’s schools, fishing villages, and other public interests. “To provide a deterrent effect, we urge law enforcers to punish MBG corruptors with severe sentences, at least life imprisonment, because they have betrayed the people, the state, and the trust given by President Prabowo,” Agustin concluded.