What Are The Similarities Between Gibran And Jokowi: From Entrepreneur, Joining PDI-P, To Becoming A Regional Head

JAKARTA - The meeting of the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, with his father, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) became a conversation. The saying that the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree is true. Gibran is very similar to Jokowi wabil, especially in the political realm. So how far does this resemblance take Gibran a step?

The moment of the meeting occurred after Jokowi attended a meeting of the Indonesian State University Chancellors' Council (MPRTNI) meeting in Solo, Monday, September 13. In the video uploaded by the Surakarta News account on Youtube, it can be seen that Gibran is following Jokowi, who is starting to leave UNS, followed by several officials, including the Minister of Education and Technology, Nadiem Makarim.

Arriving at the car, Jokowi seemed engrossed in talking with Nadiem and a row of ministers. Gibran remained in the back position and seemed to be seriously paying attention to the conversation between Jokowi and his ministers.

Gibran's attitude is considered to be able to place himself in a flood of praise. He is considered to be able to position himself as a child and as an official in Surakarta.

Just like the president's son in general, Gibran is a character who cannot be separated from his father. Moreover, in terms of career track record, Gibran's steps are like areca nut halved with Jokowi.

The first son of President Jokowi and Iriana started his career as a food service entrepreneur named Chili Pari. He pioneered the culinary business since December 2010.

In order to improve the quality of the English of Chile Pari's freelancers, he founded the House of Knowledge. An educational house that trains quality English.

In 2015, Gibran and his younger brother Kaesang Pangarep collaborated to open a joint business through "Markobar" an acronym for Martabak Kota Baru. A culinary business that focuses on selling their signature martabak, their eight main flavors. Starting in the city of Solo, now Markobar is claimed to have 29 branches in major cities in Indonesia.

Gibran's F&B business is expanding. Together with Kevin Susanto, Gibran once again opened a startup called Goola. A modern version of the traditional drink with a 22 drink menu. The startup business created by Gibran and his partner was also given funding of 5 million dollars, or equivalent to Rp. 70 billion from Alpha JWC Features' venture capital.

Gibran's entrepreneurial blood comes from Jokowi's father, who is known as a furniture entrepreneur. Jokowi is even used to making money by working at the age of 12.

Interestingly, Jokowi was only really passionate about focusing on business after his first child, Gibran, was born. Jokowi started his own business through the flag of PT. Rakabu, a wood industry export company headquartered in Solo, Central Java.

After successfully developing his export-based business, in 2015 Jokowi first entered politics. Considering that 18 years of doing business were enough, Jokowi tried his luck by accepting the proposals of the PDI-P and PKB in the 2005 Solo elections.

Meanwhile, Gibran has a similar career path to his father. Like Jokowi, Gibran also started his political career by fighting in the Solo Mayoral Election through the PDIP political party.

But the equation is not exact. If Jokowi was initially smoothly proposed by PDIP, Gibran's political debut was more steep. He is said to have had an argument with Achmad Purnomo, who slowly began to shift his position by Gibran as a potential replacement for Fransiskus Xaverius Hadi Rudyatmo, also known as FX Rudyatmo.

Gibran actually said that he was not interested in following in his father's footsteps in politics. "No, I'm not interested (becoming a politician)," said the father of Jan Ethes and La Lembah Manah at that time in August 2018 when the inauguration of the Sang Pisang and Markobar outlets in the Cikini area, Central Jakarta.

At least until the following year, in July 2019 Gibran's answer was still the same: not interested in becoming a politician or stepping into the realm of national politics. When almost all the children of the presidents of this republic entered the world of politics, except for BJ Habibie. Gibran still has the same view, the world of politics is less interesting than being an entrepreneur. Plus the statement of the father himself, that his children do not want to do politics in the near future.

But life is dynamic. Had "not received the blessing" at the party's DPC (Branch Management Board) level when he was about to run for mayor of Solo, Gibran moved up to the DPD (Regional Management Council) level in Central Java. Through this DPD route, his name finally passed as the number one candidate in Solo.

Political observer from Al-Azhar University in Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin assesses that the success of Gibran's political career in Solo is the result because he has implemented ATM, namely observing, imitating, and modifying. Because his father had succeeded in becoming president, Gibran only had to imitate him.

"Success is sometimes done by imitating. By using ATM (Observe, Imitate, and Modify). If you want to be successful, then ATM is someone who is already successful... While adjusting to the dynamics and political developments that are happening at this time," explained Ujang when contacted by VOI .

According to Ujang, the similarities between Gibran's way and way of doing politics with Jokowi are not only due to imitation, but Gibran has modified his way of doing politics to the current situation. "It has been modified by itself. Because politics is always changing. And the strategies and times that Jokowi and Gibran are facing are different."

Perhaps many expect that Gibran's rise in politics will resemble his father's. For this reason, Gibran is still frequently asked about his interest in running for the DKI Jakarta Pilgud. Even Gibran was asked who he would be paired with if he were to run in the DKI gubernatorial election.

But Gibran responded to the question jokingly. "I am Pak Teguh's partner... in Solo," said Gibran, Wednesday, September 15.

The mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is said to be exploring himself to run for the DKI Jakarta Regional Head Election in 2024. This emerged after Gibran left for Jakarta to receive the Top BUMD Awards 2021 and fulfilled the invitation for a blood donation event from PWNU DKI Jakarta.

However, he argued that his arrival only fulfilled an invitation from the PWNU DKI Jakarta. "Ora, wong teko (no, I came) tok an invitation as, representing the big family of Karang Taruna," he explained.

Political observer Ujang Komarudin believes that Gibran's potential to move to a higher political level is quite large. Especially at this time, his father, Jokowi is still president.

"The potential is great. Moreover, his father is currently still president. His political opponents will count it," said Ujang.

*Read other information about POLITICS or read other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

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