Deputy Manpower Minister and graft suspect Immanuel Ebenezer (centre) walking to a prisoner transfer van on Aug 22 at the Corruption Eradication Commission headquarters in Jakarta. - Antara
JAKARTA: The arrest of former deputy manpower minister Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan in a corruption case could mark a turning point for President Prabowo Subianto's young administration, testing his anticorruption drive while giving him an opening to refresh his cabinet.
Immanuel, widely known as Noel, was arrested last Thursday (Aug 21) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the alleged extortion scheme tied to workplace safety certifications at the manpower ministry and named a suspect a day later.
He is the first member of Prabowo’s cabinet to be arrested for corruption, less than a year after the administration took office.
Only hours after KPK declared Noel a suspect on Friday, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced that the President had signed a decree removing Noel from his post, saying the government respected the ongoing legal process.
“The President hopes the case will serve as a lesson for all members of the cabinet and government officials,” Prasetyo said.
“The President truly wants us all to work tirelessly in the fight against corruption.”
Noel has maintained innocence and is hoping to get clemency from Prabowo, but Presidential Communications Office (PCO) head Hasan Nasbi made clear on Saturday that the President “will not protect any of his officials involved in corruption”.
Analysts said the case represents both a test for Prabowo’s anticorruption drive and an opportunity for him to step out from the shadow of his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has often been seen as seeking to exert influence over the current administration.
Noel was a longtime supporter of Jokowi before joining Prabowo’s Gerindra Party two years ago.
“KPK deserves credit as it shows courage in tackling corruption, even when it involves a member of Prabowo’s cabinet,” said political researcher Nicky Fahrizal of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
At the same time, the case also reflected a shifting balance of power, Nicky said, pointing to how Prabowo’s support for the investigation into Noel “reinforced the impression that the President was seeking to curb Jokowi's influence in his government”.
Noel first rose to prominence as a vocal supporter of Jokowi during his first presidential run in 2014, leading a volunteer group called Jokowi Mania.
The group defended Jokowi throughout his two-term presidency before rebranding as Prabowo Mania 08 in March 2023 to support Prabowo and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son, in last year’s election.
Noel joined Prabowo’s Gerindra later in 2023, before being appointed as deputy manpower minister in October 2024.
By swiftly removing Noel from the cabinet and letting the investigation proceed, Prabowo could assert independence from Jokowi and counter perceptions that he might protect the former president’s allies, said analyst Agung Baskoro of Trias Politika Strategis.
“The legal protections once enjoyed by Jokowi’s circle are no longer the same. The arrest sent a strong message that Prabowo will not discriminate. Anyone wrong will be taken, regardless of political camp,” he said.
Noel’s arrest has also reignited persistent speculation about a possible cabinet shakeup, a topic that has lingered in the nation’s political discourse for months amid mounting public frustration over lackluster performance of several ministries.
State Secretary Prasetyo said the arrest did not automatically warrant a cabinet reshuffle, suggesting that adding that deputy post could remain vacant or be filled by an interim appointee.
Still, the vacant deputy manpower minister post, Nicky said, could offer a “precondition” for some changes in the cabinet, providing the President with justification and opportunity to replace underperforming ministers.
“With a position now open, the President can justify refreshing the cabinet, especially as public sentiment has been critical of performance in several portfolios,” Nicky said.
Nicky and Agung also see the case might mark the start of a “gradual sidelining of figures linked to Jokowi”, opening doors for new players into the cabinet, including members or those affiliated with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Jokowi’s former political vehicle turned rival. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
