Jokowi's son Gibran draws ire after ‘arrogant’ VP debate performance

Vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar (centre) faces off with rivals Mahfud MD (left) and Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Jan 21, 2024, at the fourth televised presidential election debate held at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta. - Antara

JAKARTA: Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka has come under fire for his performance at the fourth televised presidential election debate on Sunday (Jan 21), with many on social media interpreting his remarks as arrogant as he significantly broke away from the traditional Javanese values of restraint and the courteous expression of opinion, unlike his older rivals.

Gibran, the eldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, went up against rivals Muhaimin Iskandar, 57, of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, 66, two experienced politicians also vying for the VP seat.