Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia has publicly denied any involvement in an alleged wiretapping operation targeting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, dismissing the claims as a political smear campaign designed to weaken his party. Speaking in Jakarta, Bahlil—who also serves as the country’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources—refuted reports that he participated in a clandestine meeting with high-ranking generals to discuss electronic surveillance of the head of state. This development comes during a sensitive political transition in Indonesia, following the inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto in October 2024, as the new administration seeks to solidify its coalition amidst internal power dynamics within major parties like Golkar.
What are the allegations against Bahlil Lahadalia?
Bahlil Lahadalia is facing allegations that he participated in a secret meeting with military and police figures to coordinate wiretapping activities against President Prabowo Subianto. According to reports from Kompas.com, the Golkar chairman characterized these rumors as "nonsense" and insisted that no such meeting ever took place. Bahlil suggested that the accusations were being circulated by political opponents to undermine the Golkar Party, the second-largest party in the Indonesian parliament and a critical pillar of the current government coalition. As reported by detikNews, Bahlil views the spread of these rumors as a calculated effort to create internal friction and damage his credibility as a national leader.
"The issue of the meeting with the generals is nonsense. I have never done that," Bahlil Lahadalia stated as reported by Kompas.com, while also admitting to being under surveillance himself.
Is the Golkar Chairman also a target of surveillance?
Bahlil Lahadalia claims that far from being a perpetrator of wiretapping, he has personally been a victim of surveillance conducted by senior security officials. As reported by Tempo.co English and Kompas.com, Bahlil admitted that he is currently being wiretapped by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and his associates. In a candid moment reported by Kompas.com, Bahlil expressed a sense of unease regarding this surveillance, stating, "I am also afraid." By framing himself as a target of the same electronic monitoring he is accused of orchestrating, Bahlil is attempting to shift the narrative from a conspiracy against the President to a broader climate of high-level surveillance among Indonesia's political elite.
How will Bahlil Lahadalia respond to the rumors?
Bahlil Lahadalia has threatened to take legal action against those responsible for disseminating the wiretapping allegations to the public. According to VOI.ID, the Golkar leader is considering a somasi—a formal legal warning or notice—against parties who continue to spread what he deems to be defamatory misinformation. Bahlil’s legal team is reportedly monitoring the situation as the minister seeks to protect his reputation and the stability of the Golkar Party. Additionally, Kompas.com noted that Bahlil made a cryptic reference to a "bespectacled senior" figure during his denial, though he did not provide a specific name, further highlighting the intricate and often opaque nature of Indonesian internal politics.
The controversy underscores the high stakes for the Golkar Party, which underwent a rapid leadership change in mid-2024 when Bahlil was elected chairman following the sudden resignation of Airlangga Hartarto. As a key ally to both former President Joko Widodo and current President Prabowo Subianto, Bahlil’s position is central to the stability of the ruling alliance. These wiretapping claims, regardless of their validity, reflect the ongoing tension and suspicion within the security apparatus and political circles as the new administration begins its five-year term.
