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[DISCOURSE] I’m not a kingmaker: Jusuf Kalla
I honestly never think nor do anything about it. And it is hard to explain why people sense that I still have influence. [Whether I still have it] is a matter of personal opinion.
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Former vice president Jusuf Kalla (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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em>After leaving office last year, former vice president Jusuf Kalla could have enjoyed a quiet retirement – he in fact had planned to go on a weeks-long cruise before COVID-19 hit. But last week, he was back in the news after a Democratic Party politician made a public statement insinuating that Kalla was responsible for bringing controversial cleric Rizieq Shihab back home from his self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia. One of Kalla’s daughters filed a defamation suit against the politician, Ferdinand Hutahaean, particularly over what she deemed was a slur used against Kalla. The Jakarta Post’s M. Taufiqurrahman and Ina Parlina spoke with Kalla at his private home in South Jakarta last week, first about Rizieq before branching out to other subjects of importance.
Question: The return of Rizieq to Indonesia has led to much speculation about national politics, with some mentioning or drawing connections to your name. Any comments?
Answer: I think the issues surrounding him were exaggerated. I wonder why it [the return] was a big issue and why so many people welcomed him home.
Perhaps there is no leadership in society, particularly among Muslims, so people are longing to have [someone] to voice their aspirations to. That was probably why a figure like Pak Rizieq came to surface and people felt that they could voice their aspirations through him.
His criminal charges have been dropped so it is actually only a matter of violating [health protocols].
But who was in charge of organizing the massive gatherings? That is the question.
What happened in Saudi Arabia and why are there accusations against you?
