Prabowo Subianto Claims to Suggest Soeharto Resign in History Today, April 5, 2019

History today, seven years ago, April 5, 2019, the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, claims that he once suggested President Soeharto to resign in the 1998 era. The advice was given because Prabowo felt that Soeharto's leadership, who was his father-in-law, was no longer expected by the people.

Previously, Indonesia was hit by a wave of economic recession in the 1997-1998 era. The turmoil brought problems. The aspirations of the Indonesian people decreased. Soeharto was asked to resign from his position as President of Indonesia.

Suharto's leadership was full of dynamics. The beginning of his leadership gained great support from the Indonesian people. This condition made Suharto act measured. He began to stir up the improvement of the Indonesian economy.

Development was carried out everywhere. Later, Suharto's leadership began to show signs of decay. Suharto was considered to have started using the military to smooth out his political agenda. He moved to push back all political opponents.

This condition made Suharto able to rule for 32 years. No one dared to really challenge Suharto's power. Suharto and Orba are also known as a repressive regime. Those who criticize can end up being imprisoned.

As a result, corruption was rampant. Whoever wanted to expose it would be crushed by Orba. Everything changed when it entered the 1997-1998 era. Soeharto was considered helpless with the economic recession. The rupiah weakened. People's purchasing power decreased.

This condition makes all Indonesian people in distress. Prices have started to rise sharply. Many companies have gone bankrupt. Unemployment is everywhere. This condition makes people and students move.

They demanded Soeharto to resign. Soeharto was considered to have been President of Indonesia for too long. Soeharto's leadership was also considered full of corrupt officials. The demand for Soeharto to resign was getting stronger. The Cendana family also began to feel high political tension.

Soeharto's children began to ask their parents to resign from the position of President of Indonesia. The desire was not immediately carried out. Soeharto actually resigned when the people were increasingly angry demanding an era of reform.

"According to Soeharto's son, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana (Tutut), long before the incident of Harmoko's request for Soeharto to resign, the Soeharto family itself had asked Soeharto to resign as president."

"The family has long served the country and nation, so it's time to rest with their sons and grandchildren. Regarding Tutut's request, has it ever been conveyed to the Golkar DPP? According to Harmoko, as far as he knows, never, even though Tutut himself is a member of the FKP and Golkar DPP," said Golkar Politician, Akbar Tandjung in the book The Golkar Way (2007).

Later, Orba's narrative became stronger when Prabowo Subianto entered the political arena. Prabowo who ran in the 2019 presidential election was also affected. Prabowo is considered to bring Orba back and corruption will reign again.

Prabowo also dismissed the assumption that existed on April 5, 2019. Prabowo revealed that he was a supporter of the reform era, even though he was part of the Orba government. Prabowo even claimed that he had asked Suharto to resign from the position of President of Indonesia in the 1998 era.

He considers this step as part of correcting the regime from within. Prabowo also feels that Suharto has been in power for too long. The country's problems are piling up. This condition makes him support the reform movement and the younger people than Suharto continue the government.

"At that time I also suggested that President Soeharto resign. Not because I was not loyal to Pak Harto. Just because I was loyal to Pak Soeharto, just because I loved Pak Harto."

"We have to admit that this is the failure of us all. I joined because I am part of a ruling regime. I was a general. I am an army elite. I tried to correct the regime from within. Together with my friends, we tried and we launched and we supported the reform movement at that time even though the leader of the ruling regime at that time was my own father-in-law," said Prabowo Subianto as quoted by lamankompas.com, 5 April 2019.