Megawati Soekarnoputri, the esteemed Chairwoman of the PDIP and Indonesia’s 5th President, recently engaged in a high-level meeting with His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The significant encounter took place at the majestic Qasr Al Watan (Palace of the Nation) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Wednesday (February 4) local time. Beyond strengthening bilateral ties between Indonesia and the UAE, the discussions notably delved into the intricate domestic political dynamics within Indonesia, where Megawati candidly spoke about her long-standing relationship with President Prabowo Subianto.
The insights into this crucial dialogue were provided by Zuhairi Misrawi, the non-active Chairman of the PDIP Central Leadership Council and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Tunisia. Misrawi revealed that Megawati openly articulated the depth of her friendship with Prabowo, emphasizing a shared vision for the nation. Recalling Megawati’s words, Misrawi quoted, “President Prabowo and I have been friends for quite a long time. We share a grand vision for Indonesia Raya.” This personal connection was further highlighted by the informal yet affectionate terms they use for each other, with Megawati referring to Prabowo as ‘Mas’ (an Indonesian term for an older brother or close male friend) and Prabowo addressing her as ‘Mbak’ (an equivalent term for an older sister or close female friend), signifying a remarkably strong bond.
Despite this profound personal camaraderie, Megawati unequivocally conveyed to Sheikh Khaled the unwavering institutional stance of PDIP. She emphasized that the party remains steadfast in its role as a balancing force, opting to operate outside the current government. This strategic decision, Megawati clarified, is rooted in the commitment to maintain a robust mechanism of check and balance, fundamentally for the welfare and interests of the Indonesian people. “We choose to be outside the government as a balancing force,” Megawati asserted, adding, “If the government undertakes actions beneficial to the people, we will lend our full support. However, if there are aspects that are not serving the public interest, we will actively correct them and provide constructive input.”
Furthermore, Megawati took the opportunity to enlighten the Crown Prince on Indonesia’s unique constitutional system. She meticulously clarified that within Indonesia’s adopted presidential system, the terminologies ‘opposition’ and ‘coalition’ are not applicable. Instead, the Indonesian framework acknowledges entities that are either “with the government” or “outside the government.” Megawati underscored that the concept of ‘opposition’ is exclusively inherent to parliamentary systems, differentiating Indonesia’s approach from other democratic models.
Listening attentively to Megawati’s comprehensive explanation, Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered a distinctly positive response. He acknowledged his understanding and profound respect for the principled political stance adopted by Megawati and her party. The UAE Crown Prince thoughtfully concluded, stating, “We can understand Your Excellency Mrs. Megawati’s explanation,” thereby affirming mutual understanding and appreciation for the nuanced approach to Indonesian politics.
Summary
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chairwoman of PDIP and former Indonesian President, met with Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi in the UAE. During their high-level discussion, Megawati openly shared details of her long-standing friendship with President Prabowo Subianto, highlighting a shared grand vision for Indonesia. She noted their use of informal terms like ‘Mas’ and ‘Mbak,’ signifying a remarkably strong personal bond.
Despite this personal camaraderie, Megawati conveyed PDIP’s institutional decision to operate outside the government as a balancing force for check and balance. She clarified that Indonesia’s presidential system recognizes entities “with the government” or “outside the government,” rather than “opposition” or “coalition.” Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled expressed understanding and respect for Megawati’s principled political stance.