TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsCritical space narrows as Prabowo's brother embraces mass orgs
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Set as preferred source
Golden Indonesia Community Forum (Formas) board of trustees chairman Hashim Djojohadikusumo (right), Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar (center) and Formas chief expert Serian Wijatno attend the inauguration of 20 mass organizations as Formas new members in Jakarta on Aug. 7, 2026. (Antara/Handout/Golden Indonesia Community Forum (FORMAS))
T
he growing consolidation of mass organizations under a group cofounded by President Prabowo Subianto’s younger brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo to support government programs has raised concerns over the potential narrowing of space for criticism and the weakening of independent voices.
At the second anniversary celebration of the Golden Indonesia Community Forum (Formas) in Jakarta last Friday, the forum welcomed the addition of 20 groups from diverse backgrounds, bringing its total membership to 103.
Among the new members joining Formas were several groups that had supported Prabowo during the 2024 presidential election, including Perisai Prabowo and Matahari Pagi, as well as organizations focused on social, economic, youth and women's issues.
Speaking at Friday’s event, Formas chief expert Serian Wijatno said the expansion was part of efforts to consolidate mass organizations and encourage them to contribute more actively to national development rather than act as spectators.
“This is a concrete step for civil society organizations to support and monitor the government’s development programs, while responding to the challenges Indonesia faces today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Formas chairman Yohanes Handojo Budhisedjati expressed hope that the growing membership would strengthen civil society’s role in supporting Prabowo’s administration.
“Formas is here to help realize programs that serve the people. We want to ensure that the government’s strategic policies are truly felt by the public,” he said.
