Prabowo Subianto appoints 26 members to Presidential Advisory Council

President Prabowo Subianto has officially appointed 26 members to the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres). Among the notable appointees is political commentator Rocky Gerung, who has transitioned from a vocal critic of the administration to a government advisor. Other appointees include Pratikno as Chairman, Muhammad Hatta Rajasa as Vice Chairman, and various national figures such as M. Quraish Shihab and Sinta Nuriyah Wahid.

As a member of Wantimpres, Gerung will receive a monthly financial entitlement of Rp76.5 million, along with ministerial-level facilities. Gerung has addressed public scrutiny regarding his new role, stating that he has merely moved from outside to inside the government and intends to maintain a critical perspective on policy rather than simply criticizing the administration. He also noted the challenge of maintaining his reputation amidst public backlash.

In a separate but related administrative move, President Prabowo has also focused on strengthening government communication. He met with the newly appointed Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom), Syahganda Nainggolan, and Deputy Head Fadli Tri Hartono. The President instructed Bakom to use simple language and establish two-way communication to ensure government programs and policies are clearly understood by the public.