Dharma Pongrekun: Cyber Pandemic Can Happen, Be Careful of Total Power and Internet Shutdowns

Dharma Pongrekun. (doc. EdShareOn)

JAKARTA - Former Deputy Head of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (BSSN) Commissioner General of Retired Police, Dharma Pongrekun, reminded the Indonesian people about the possibility of a cyber pandemic or cyber pandemic, as happened in Estonia in 2007.

At that time, the country on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea experienced paralysis due to a total power outage. A similar condition was also experienced by a number of Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and France last year.

"When data theft occurred at the Temporary National Data Center (PDNS) (in 2024), I had already said, 'Be careful if the internet goes down, shut down', or the term blackout. Well, it turns out that condition happened in other countries like Estonia. This shows that digitalization is dangerous, because we can be controlled from a distance," said Dharma when talking to Eddy Wijaya in the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Previously viral in a news broadcast, Dharma urged the public to prepare complete equipment if faced with an emergency situation of power and internet outages for seven days.

The DKI gubernatorial candidate in the 2024 election explained that the emergency situation could cause power outages, ATMs not working, no clean water, so it could paralyze community activities. Dharma's explanation had triggered panic among netizens on social media.

According to Dharma, situations like blackouts in various parts of the world can occur because there are powerful forces that control all aspects of the lives of the world's citizens. He cited the Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane, which carried 227 passengers and 12 crew, which disappeared from radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur airport in March 2014.

"It's like playing PlayStation. The Malaysian plane can be made to land, not land. Just like an electric car (which can be controlled). That's why now electric cars are everywhere," he said.

As for the current condition in Indonesia, Dharma is like autopilot. Because we always swallow raw and can't fight global scenarios. Even when other countries like the Netherlands and Germany have given advice to their citizens to survive in the midst of a crisis through a booklet containing a manual, the Indonesian people have not received anything similar.

Therefore, this Toraja-blooded man appealed to the public to practice or prepare themselves to survive if there is suddenly a power and internet shutdown.

"We remember the time when we still use petromaks lights, cooking with a fire stove, drawing water from a well with a bucket, yes, be prepared like that," said Dharma. "That's why we have to be smart. I'm not scaring you. In fact, I'm giving an early warning. It doesn't hurt to prepare an umbrella before the rain."

Dharma assessed that humans today are conditioned to depend on electricity and the internet, so they cannot survive without both. "Comfort and dependence are Batman's trap. Why? Because the control is in those who are the committee of this game and agenda," he said.

Disentil Pandji, Dharma Pongrekun: Pemilih Saya Berani BedaDharma Pongrekun X Eddy Wijaya. (doc. EdShareOn)

Retired Police Commissioner General Dharma Pongrekun did not bother about Pandji Pragiwaksono's feelings towards him in the comedian's stand-up comedy titled "Mens Rea". According to the former Deputy Head of the National Cyber and Information Agency (BSSN), it is normal if there are differences of opinion in a democratic life.

"It's okay to have different perceptions. It's unhealthy if we consider different choices as something that is not good or a threat," he told Eddy Wijaya in the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

In Mens Rea which aired on the Netflix streaming service, Pandji was said to have mocked the voters of the DKI Governor and Deputy Governor candidates, Dharma Pongrekun and Kun Wardana, in the 2024 Pilkada.

Pandji compared Dharma's statement about the Covid-19 conspiracy, with the number of votes in the Pilkada which reached 10 percent. Pandji also performed a finger licking action, which refers to Dharma's distrust of the Corona virus.

Regarding this, Dharma claimed that the people who chose him were not less educated, but were actually brave to behave differently.

"They (Dharma-Kun voters) do not want their opinions to be swayed by survey institutions, do not want to sell their decisions for food and money, dare to think critically and take unusual steps," he said.

Regarding the summonses sent by Dharma Spokesperson Pongrekun, Ikhsan Tualeka, to Pandji regarding Mens Rea, this 60-year-old man claimed that he never respected him. According to Dharma, the open ethical summons is an expression of the feelings or emotions of his supporters who disagree with the Mens Rea material. For Dharma, criticism in democracy is reasonable, provided it is delivered intelligently and appropriately.

"Whatever we say, say it intelligently. Criticism is allowed, but polite so that it is civilized. Even though the etiquette is abstract, it can be felt. The danger is when the people are not cared for, they are only given laughter without any follow-up to the criticism that is delivered," he said. "I am sad if the people are only objects."

Who is Eddy Wijaya, this is his profile

Eddy Wijaya is a podcaster born on August 17, 1972. Through the YouTube account @EdShareOn, Eddy interviewed many national figures ranging from state officials, legal experts, political experts, national politicians, to local celebrities.

The man with a right cheek dimple is also a nationalist who is an activist for the marginalized and social observers by helping the community through the Wijaya Peduli Bangsa Foundation.

He is also active in the field of sports by serving as the Chairman of the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi) Pacu and also served as Deputy General Chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) East Jakarta. Eddy also served as an Advisor to the Indonesian Chinese Social Association, 2022-2026.

His ideas were formed because of his hard work to be independent from the age of 13 to be successful as he is now. For Eddy, the world of work is not as smooth as imagined, failure and rejection are common. This is what makes him hold the tagline "Success is just a matter of time".