Ray Rangkuti: President Prabowo's Political Swing More To Megawati

Eddy Wijaya and Ray Rangkuh. (Doc Eddy Wijaya)

Political observer Ray Rangkuti assesses that granting amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto and an abolition to Thomas Trikasih Lembong or Tom Lembong is full of political attitudes from President Prabowo Subianto at this time. According to Ray, Prabowo is currently getting closer to the Chairperson of the PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri and is increasingly tenuous with the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo.

"Sebagai contoh, karena lebih banyak 'hayunnya' ke Ibu Mega, kasus soal Tom Lembong terlepas, otomatis nama Pak Jokowi yang terkena. Lalu soal Hasto lepas, otomatis Pak Jokowi yang terkena," ujar Ray saat berbincang dengan Eddy Wijaya dalam podcast EdShareOnyang tayang pada Rabu, 13 Agustus 2025.

Ray explained that Hasto was a confidant of Megawati Soekarnoputri who had served as secretary general of the PDIP. Meanwhile, Tom Lembong is a former co-Captain Team for Winning Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election. Both Hasto and Tom often criticize Jokowi's political stance. "These two people can be called representing 2 opposition powers. The hasto of formal opposition in the legislature through the PDI-P, Tom Lembong, the non-formal opposition of Anies Baswedan, who is known as the son of Abah," he said.

Hasto Kristiyanto was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in the bribery case for Interim Replacement (PAW) for members of the Indonesian House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in the corruption case of importing sugar while serving as Minister of Trade for the 2015 period 2016. However, both of them were released from their sentences after President Prabowo granted Hasto and abolition to Tom on August 1.

According to Ray, the granting of amnesty and abolition has a fairly broad impact on Prabowo's relationship with Jokowi and politics ahead of the 2029 presidential election. Ray suspects that President Prabowo will cooperate with PDIP and is likely to leave Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi's eldest son ahead of the presidential election.

"My guess is that Gibran is no longer invited by Prabowo as a vice presidential candidate for 2029. Why not invite him? Because Gibran's political backup is too small, which is no party until now," he said. In fact, I have a suspicion, maybe Puan (Puan Maharani, Megawati's son) who will be paired with Pak Prabowo," he added.

The founder of the Lingkar Madani (LIMA) Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) predicts this since President Prabowo's meeting with Megawati on April 7. I have reminded you

From the start, as soon as Mrs. Mega meets Mr. Prabowo, there will be a signal that Mr. Prabowo will move closer to Mrs. Mega, who will automatically leave Mr. Jokowi, "said the graduate of the Faculty of Ushuluddin, the Aqidah Islamic Philosophy Program of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

According to Ray Rangkuti Tom Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto, it can be said that they represent 2 opposition powers. (Doc Eddy Wijaya)

Jokowi Must Enter A Bigger Political Party

Political observer Ray Rangkuti suggested that the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo join a larger political party than the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). This was in response to the discourse on Jokowi joining the party led by his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep as chairman of the supervisory board.

"Want to go to Golkar, or to PPP, anywhere, but look for a bigger political party. Because if he continues to entrenched at PSI, PSI's name will automatically be tarnished, while the jack power is not too big. Even when Pak Jokowi became president, PSI only got 2.8 percent of the vote," Ray told Eddy Wijaya.

The 98-born activist from Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, August 20, 1969 explained that Jokowi's political influence will continue to exist if he joins one of the parties in the DPR RI seats. Moreover, Jokowi needs strong political support in the 2029 presidential election to carry Gibran Rakabuming as a presidential candidate.

"This political gathering only exists in 8 parties that are currently sitting in parliament," Ray said. "If my view is yes, don't go to PSI, you have to go to another party so that there will be backups for Gibran in the future," he added.

Who Is Eddy Wijaya Really, Here's The Profile

The figure of Eddy Wijaya is a podcaster who was born on August 17, 1972. Through the @EdShareOn YouTube account, Eddy interviewed many national figures ranging from state officials, legal experts, political experts, national politicians, to Indonesian celebrities. The man with the characteristics of the right cheek dimple is also a nationalist who is a struggling activist for discriminated and social observers by helping the community through the Wijaya Peduli Bangsa foundation.

He is also active in sports by serving as Daily Chair of the Indonesian Horseed Sports Association (Pordasi) Pacu and has also served as Deputy Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) East Jakarta. His ideas were formed because of his hard work to be independent from the age of 13 years until his success as he is now. For Eddy, the world of work is not as smooth as imagined, failure and rejection are commonplace. This is what makes him hold on to the tagline Success is only a matter of time. (ADV)