The cake came out, while the president applauded. The surroundings were palatial, but what else would you expect from the Four Seasons George V in Paris, whose most expensive rooms cost US$30,000 a night.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was visiting France in April on official business, but for many watching the video, it seemed no expense was spared to celebrate the birthday of the president’s close personal aide, Cabinet Secretary Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Posted on Teddy’s official Instagram on April 14, and surprisingly not deleted since then, the video went viral. At a time when Indonesians are feeling the pinch and government department budgets are being cut in the name of efficiency, the reaction was decidedly negative.
Last week, the reaction took a dramatic turn on April 30. Amien Rais, the former leader of the powerful Muslim organization Muhammadiyah and head of a small political party, posted a video on YouTube making heated accusations about Ted and his relationship with Prabowo.
In the context of a socially conservative Muslim country, the claims were explosive. He further asked Prabowo to assert his warrior spirit and remove Teddy.
The video was quickly deleted after Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid condemned it as defamation. But clips of her most provocative columns are still circulating widely on the Internet. Amien Rais is sticking to his guns, inviting Teddy to sue him on the charges.
Some may dismiss this as just another embarrassing episode in Indonesian politics. But the fact that these accusations were made reflects growing elite concern about Prabowo’s leadership.
Indonesia’s presidency has long had a royal element. 37-year-old Teddy fills the often unfortunate role of royal favourite. He is someone whose trusted personal relationship with the de facto monarch has propelled them to power and influence far beyond their ordinary status, which in turn has caused resentment.
So why the concern? Prabowo rose to power in 2024, promising good economic times. He predicted 8% GDP growth, which in turn would fund laudable social programs like free school meals and make the country respected on the world stage.
Instead, in 2025, growth remained stubbornly around 5%, government revenues fell, and cost-of-living issues began to take hold.
Excavations also spread to the privileged classes. Sweeping cuts to departmental budgets to free up money for the school meals program ruffled bureaucratic feathers. And, Indonesia’s oligarchs faced mass confiscation of allegedly corruptly acquired land and pressure to subscribe to 2% “Patriot Bonds”.
In August, the country saw its worst unrest since 1998 when dictatorial President Suharto, Prabowo’s former father-in-law, was forced to resign.
Being too critical of the president carries great risks. With little real opposition in parliament, former vice president Jusuf Kalla had become an unofficial mouthpiece for loyalist critics.
Last month, he was suddenly reported to the police for suspected blasphemy for anodyne comments in a speech to university students. Other critics have been imprisoned and later granted presidential pardons.
But even if they won’t say it publicly, many in elite circles feel that the country is in shambles and blame Prabowo’s leadership style.
The president, according to many, is difficult to reach, especially for those with bad news or undesirable views. The approach is run by a tight circle of young male aides, chosen and protected by Prabowo.
Unlucky Teddy is the most prominent of them. A promising young officer in Indonesia’s army, he served as an aide to former president Joko Widodo and then from 2020 to Prabowo, then defense minister.
When Prabowo assumed the presidency, Ted’s professional trajectory went meteoric, raising eyebrows along the way. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary, a position usually reserved for veteran political wranglers.
And, to give him a status suitable for this role, he was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel, in a process that contravened military regulations governing promotions.
This increase would always have raised retaliation. Combined with his status as a gatekeeper to presidential access at a time of growing concern about the country’s leadership, plus the alleged personal attacks and attitudes towards him in some quarters, it is positively sulphurous.
Malicious rumors and innuendo spread behind closed doors, then in online comment sections, until it finally burst into the public domain.
Under different circumstances, such rumors would likely be irrelevant. In neighboring Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has long been subject to similar attacks from opponents. But time has taken away their sting and his political control is such that he has been able to remove them.
In Indonesia, however, things are shakier. And if economic conditions continue to deteriorate, if privileged groups, not just the poor, begin to feel squeezed, if the executive continues to be seen as out of touch, and if open criticism of Prabowo is seen as dangerous, then popular anger will be placed on a soft target.
