Confidence In Javanese Calendar And Figures Bring Political Hockey?

JAKARTA Since the era of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to President Prabowo Subianto, a series of events related to the president's decision have often been attached to certain numbers or days.

Prabowo carried out the reshuffle of the Red and White Cabinet for the third time during 11 months leading on Wednesday (17/9/2025). But interestingly, of Pabowo's three kalireshuffles, the public observed something unique, such as the selection of dates that all contain elements of the number eight.

Many believe that choosing a certain date or day in Javanese cultural life is not just a marker of time, but a symbol of life's path.

In the three cabinet reshuffles carried out by President Prabowo Subianto, the date selection was in the spotlight. The combination of numbers selected if summed or reduced provides an eighth mark.

The first reshuffle was on February 19, 2025. At that time, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Satryo Brodjonegoro, was replaced by Brian Yuliarto.

The second cabinet reshuffle was carried out on September 8, 2025. Four ministers and one deputy minister were sworn in at the State Palace. While the third reshuffle was carried out on September 17, 2025, by inaugurating two ministers, three deputy ministers, as well as a number of officials at the level of agencies and institutions.

The three reshuffle dates both contain elements of eight. Number 19 for example, if the combination of the numbers is reduced (9-1), then to 8. In the second reshuffle, the 8th is immediately chosen. While 17 if added also produces 8.

Whether it's just a coincidence or indeed Prabowo chose these dates because they have a special meaning. What is certain is that the Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi admitted that he was not aware of the element of number eight in three cabinet reshuffle times.

"I just found out about this, asking for help later to be sent an explanation, I just found out the calculations, sure. I'm sure, I just found out," he said, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Friday (19/9/2025).

President Prabowo Subianto's closeness to number eight did not only occur this time. In the course of his career, this figure is often tied to Prabowo. When he was Deputy Commander of the Special Forces Command, Prabowo was given a code 08. The number 08 is often interpreted as a sign that Prabowo will become the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Prabowo said, maybe he was destined to become the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia. In addition to getting a code 08, Prabowo was also appointed president in 2024, which if the four numbers were summed, the results would be eight.

"So, I became the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia in 8th year," Prabowo said during a political speech commemorating the 17th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, February 15, 2025.

In addition, Gerindra's birthday commemoration is also interpreted as having an element of eight. Because, if the number 17 is added to the number eight.

Dan, hari ini saya sebagai Presiden Republik Indonesia berdiri di sini pada ulang tahun ke-17.1+7=8, kata Prabowo.

Another Prabowo, also Joko Widodo (Jokowi). This seventh president is synonymous with the Java calendar. On several occasions of reshuffle, Jokowi chose Wednesday Pon, which is his weton or birthday. In Javanese trust, weton is considered a special day that can determine a person's lucky direction.

While serving for two terms, Jokowi is known to have made four cabinet reshuffles on Wednesday Pon. Starting from the first reshuffle on August 12, 2015, July 27, 2026, December 23, 2020, and February 21, 2024. Not only that, when announcing the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jokowi also chose Wednesday Pon, namely June 21, 2023.

Meanwhile, four other reshuffles were carried out by Jokowi on Pahing Wednesday, namely on January 17, 2018, August 15, 2018, January 15, 2022, and November 22, 2023. This pattern shows Jokowi's consistency in the days in the Java calendar when it is about to reshuffle the cabinet.

Meanwhile, the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is said to have a close relationship with the number nine. The Democrat Party he initiated was declared on September 9, 2001, with the initial number of 99 members. Many believe this stems from the birth of SBY in Pacitan on September 9, 1949.

This number of nine also penetrates into other things. Wisnu Nugroho in his book PakBeye and Politics revealed that there was a deer painting in one of the Palace rooms in the SBY era and the number was nine. Then Wisnu had the opportunity to count the lights at SBY's residence in the Cikeas pavilion, the number was nine.

Regarding this phenomenon, researchers at the Political Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Wasisto Raharjo Jati said that the use of the Java calendar and certain figures were used because of the political hoax'. The President believes in a good day or a figure that is symbolically attached personally to their respective beliefs.

He gave an example, the number eight which is often associated with the moment of Prabowo's political decision could be linked to Chinese culture.

In fengsui, the number eight is believed to be a lucky number and is related to welfare. The number eight also symbolizes infinity, a mathematical symbol that shows an unlimited concept.

Meanwhile, Jokowi, who often decides on important policies on Wednesday Pon, refers to a weton or birthday according to the Javanese calendar. For Javanese people, wetons are believed to be an important day for contemplation for a good life.

Likewise, the number nine which is synonymous with SBY in Javanese culture symbolizes the highest peak. This is because the number nine is the highest number because the next number is 0, not 10, because 0 is not in Javanese culture.

Wasisto said the president's trust in political hockey occurred due to the cultural influence of the king cult which was still attached to the modern era. They believe that a leader must be able to balance the macro and micro cosmos. This political hockey factor is the influence of the support of the universe as the macro cosmos, against the leader as the micro cosmos.

"Being a leader in Indonesia, especially those centered in Java, if you don't have a cultural and spiritual grip that is practiced, it is believed that his power will not last long," said Wasisto.

Meanwhile, a Sociology teacher at Sebelas Maret University, Drajat Tri Kartono, explained that in the scope of Javanese culture, numbers, days, and dates are not just markers of time, but also symbols of the course of life. Often a series of numbers are used as determinants of human steps. For this reason, political elites like the president also often make it a guideline, especially those with Javanese backgrounds.