JAKARTA - The Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR), Iwan Setiawan, considers it reasonable when the name of the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin begins to be discussed as one of the candidates in the upcoming 2029 Presidential Candidate (Capres) exchange. According to Iwan, Sjafrie is one of the important figures in the government of President Prabowo Subianto, with a strategic role that is not only limited to the defense and security sectors. "Sjafrie's name is in the radar of the presidential exchange is a logical thing. We see how his performance and role are quite central in the Prabowo-Gibran government today," said Iwan in his statement, Thursday, February 19. Iwan added, Sjafrie is also one of the ministers who has received great trust from President Prabowo to lead the national strategic agenda, one of which as the Chairman of the Task Force for Forest Area Orderliness (PKH). The Task Force was formed through Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 and has a mandate to order illegal land possession in forest areas, including oil palm plantations and mining without permits. "The PKH Task Force focuses on taking over illegal land and enforcing the law on the misuse of forest areas. The target is clear, returning millions of hectares of land to state assets," he explained.
Furthermore, Iwan assessed that the government's steps through the PKH Task Force had a major impact on saving the potential loss of the state. However, Iwan emphasized that Sjafrie's chances of advancing as the 2029 presidential candidate depend heavily on future political dynamics, especially regarding President Prabowo's decision. "However, realistically, Sjafrie will be very difficult to advance if Prabowo Subianto still runs for a second term. It is impossible for him to advance against Prabowo, given that Sjafrie's position is one of the ministers of trust of the President," he concluded.
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