Indonesia’s Prabowo Taps Billionaires, Islamic Leaders for Presidential Advisory Council

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Friday appointed a new advisory council comprising business tycoons, politicians and influential former Islamic leaders, in another round of personnel changes as his government faces a decline in public approval.

The 24-member council includes prominent Indonesian billionaires Dato Sri Tahir, founder of Mayapada Group, and Chairul Tanjung, founder of CT Corp. Their business interests span sectors including finance, media, retail and hospitality.

The new advisory body also features two former leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation, along with four senior politicians from parties in Prabowo’s governing coalition. Three of those politicians are former cabinet ministers.

Advisory Council Revived

Indonesia’s presidential advisory council was established in 2006, but Prabowo had not appointed new members during his first two years in office.

The appointments come after two cabinet reshuffles within three weeks, including changes to key positions such as finance and foreign minister.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to share our experiences,” council head Pratikno said after the new members were inaugurated.

The council is expected to provide advice to the president on major policy issues, although analysts will be watching how much influence the body has over actual policymaking.

Move Comes Amid Approval Slump

The latest appointments come as Prabowo’s administration faces concerns over falling approval ratings as well as questions from the public and investors about government policymaking.

Arya Fernandes, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the new appointments could help strengthen Prabowo’s political support base.

“The big homework is ensuring that this advisory council truly plays a role in formulating strategic policies,” Fernandes said.

The inclusion of prominent business figures, coalition politicians and influential Islamic leaders gives the council a broad mix of political and economic experience.

Controversial Former Judge Also Appointed

The advisory council also includes former Constitutional Court chief justice Anwar Usman, who was removed from the post following an ethics violation.

Usman had been sanctioned over a ruling involving the eligibility requirements for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The decision enabled Prabowo’s running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is President Joko Widodo’s son and Prabowo’s current vice president, to contest the 2024 election despite not meeting the standard age requirement at the time.

Prabowo’s latest appointments come as his administration seeks to consolidate its political support while responding to concerns over economic policy and governance.