JAKARTA: YouTuber, entrepreneur and politician Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo aka Jokowi, has been courting controversy after a private jet trip landed him in hot water.
In August, the scion and his pregnant wife, Erina S. Gudono, flew to the US aboard a private jet, showing off the lavish journey on social media. Not only did Kaesang make the trip amid heated political discord in his native country, he’s also been accused of potential misconduct.
On Tuesday (Sept 17), Kaesang visited Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency to discuss the issue, and spoke to reporters after the meeting. He appeared to glibly downplay the allegations, saying, “I hitchhiked on the plane of my friend.” He continued by claiming, “I came [to the agency] not because of an invitation or being summoned, but of my own initiative.” He reportedly initially planned to travel via a commercial airline.
Some netizens are speculating that the flight was arranged by Singaporean tech tycoon Gang Ye, per The Jakarta Post, which could count as “unlawful gratuity” or “trading in influence”. The anti-corruption agency plans to determine whether Kaesang broke any regulations within the week, anti-graft body Pahala Nainggolan said, according to Reuters.
The drama comes shortly after protests were already ongoing against the 29-year-old potentially running in the country’s regional elections, despite not meeting the age requirement. (One must be at least 30 at the time of nomination). A proposed election law change by the parliament would have allowed him to run, but it was retracted after severe backlash from citizens who viewed it as Jokowi’s attempt to establish a political dynasty. President Widodo is set to leave office next month, but his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is now the vice-president-elect, while Kaesang was appointed chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) last year.
Politics aside though, just who is Kaesang Pangarep?
Kaesang Pangarep had a “normal” school life
Kaesang completed his International Baccalaureate diploma at Anglo-Chinese School (International) in Singapore, where he kept his family background hidden. On his graduation day, his teacher, Ho Wee Kwong revealed, per The Straits Times, “No one knew his status [as the son of the Indonesian president]. He takes the bus just like the rest of the students. Even with teachers, he didn’t say he’s the mayor or the governor’s or the president’s son ... He just says he’s Kaesang and his father is a businessman.”
He’s an entrepreneur and YouTuber
Kaesang got his bachelor’s degree in marketing (minoring in communications) from Singapore University of Social Sciences. He launched several businesses, among which the most successful seems to be Sang Pisang, a brand focused on banana treats.
He also has a YouTube channel where he hosts a podcast called Podcast Depan Pintu. Previously, he wrote a blog about his family life.
He appeared before Indonesia’s anti-graft body
To dispel allegations of wrongdoing with respect to his recent private jet trip, Kaesang appeared before Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of his own volition, he claimed. He reportedly said it was a “personal initiative as a good citizen and not because of a written summons.”
Per The Jakarta Post though, the KPK’s chairman Nawawi Pomolanago has maintained that the investigation will continue. - South China Morning Post
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