Who’s afraid of Prabowo?

New generation: Today, more Chinese Indonesians have ventured into politics such as Hary Tanoesoedibjo (left) and Grace Natalie. — Bloomberg/Reuters

“WHAT will become of us after October?” asked a Chinese Indonesian woman in her 50s at a recent social gathering in Surabaya. The source of her worries: the inauguration of Prabowo Subianto as Indonesia’s next president on Oct 20.

Yet, 100m away at another table, a group of Chinese Indonesian businessmen in their early 30s were discussing how best to start new ventures under likely initiatives to be launched by Prabowo’s incoming administration.