Gerindra Official Slams Ex-Diplomat Over Prabowo Travel Criticism

A senior official from Indonesia's Gerindra Party has sharply criticized a former diplomat's comments regarding President Prabowo Subianto's extensive foreign travel. Habiburokhman, Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party, accused Dino Patti Djalal, a former Deputy Foreign Minister, of lacking the proper decorum and questioning his authority to critique the current administration.

"How great was Mr. Dino's era? Why is he now acting like he knows the most about the Foreign Ministry?" Habiburokhman stated Tuesday at the DPR/MPR complex. He argued that as a former high-ranking official, Djalal should prioritize ethics and respect when offering opinions. Habiburokhman drew parallels to former US presidents like George Bush not criticizing his successor, Barack Obama, and to Indonesian parliamentary leaders who do not attack their colleagues.

Habiburokhman's remarks came after Djalal posted a video on Instagram urging Prabowo to significantly cut down on international trips. Djalal claimed Prabowo spends one out of every six days abroad, making him the most frequent traveler among world leaders. He highlighted the substantial costs associated with such journeys and suggested that virtual meetings, like video calls or Zoom, could achieve similar diplomatic outcomes at virtually no cost, saving billions of rupiah and addressing public perception of wasteful travel.

Djalal proposed that bilateral meetings, often lasting only an hour or two, could be replaced by more efficient virtual communication. He cited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's numerous phone calls with US President Donald Trump as an example of effective remote diplomacy. Djalal believes this approach would save money and better manage public perception of presidential travel, which is often seen as mere tourism.