August 26, 2025 | 04:44 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Virdika Rizky Utama, Executive Director of PARA Syndicate, suspects that President Prabowo Subianto's decision to bestow honorary awards on his cabinet members and political allies is based on political proximity rather than a genuine recognition of their contributions to the country.
"Ideally, honors should be given as a recognition of an individual's extraordinary contributions to the nation. However, Prabowo bestows these honors based on political proximity," Virdika said on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
The author of the book, Menjerat Gus Dur, questions the criteria used by Prabowo, particularly for cabinet members who have only served for 10 months. Virdika argues that their performance cannot be adequately evaluated in such a short time, leading him to believe the awards are based on positional rather than merit-based criteria.
"If that is indeed the case, it is dangerous because the public may lose confidence in the institutional meaning," Virdika warned. He fears that this use of national symbols for political gain could erode public trust.
Concerns Over Specific Honorees
Virdika specifically criticized the honor given to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Golkar Party Chair, Bahlil Lahadalia, who received the Bintang Mahaputera Adipurna award. Bahlil had previously been scrutinized for the "Raja Ampat case," which Virdika views as a serious violation of governance and a conflict of interest.
"The Raja Ampat case is not a trivial matter. But now, he is being honored? It raises the question whether we are truly building a meritocracy or simply strengthening the ranks," he said.
Virdika’s criticism is not a personal attack but a critique based on ethical standards. He argues that the honors are part of a strategy to secure the stability of Prabowo's power.
"When national symbols bow to political calculations rather than to republican principles," Virdika explained, "this is precisely where the danger lies."
Controversy Over Former Corruption Convict
Virdika also questioned the honor bestowed upon former corruption convict Burhanuddin Abdullah, who was an expert council member of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team in the 2024 Presidential Election.
He believes this honor attempts to normalize corruption and is a "symbolic repayment for support" rather than a recognition of merit.
According to Virdika, this sends a dangerous message that a track record of corruption can be overlooked if an individual has strategic value. He believes the government is prioritizing loyalty over integrity. "Such a situation does not bode well for democracy," he added.
On Monday, August 25, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto conferred 141 honors to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia. The honorees included 18 members of the Red and White Cabinet, among them Bahlil Lahadalia.
According to State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, the awards were given to "the best in their respective fields" and "the outstanding sons and daughters of the nation who have excelled."
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