Indonesia elections: is Prabowo Subianto on the verge of a Mahathir Mohamad-style upset?
- Not long ago, few pollsters would have given Prabowo Subianto a chance of defeating incumbent President Joko Widodo
- But now the former special forces general is gaining momentum – and drawing inspiration from Malaysia’s 93-year-old leader
But try telling that to Risnawati, a 47-year-old food seller from West Jakarta who spent a recent Sunday morning inside the capital’s sprawling Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium waiting for the former general to give a speech.
She was joined by hundreds of thousands of others, mostly dressed in trademark white clothes, who flocked to the city’s main sports venue to “whiten the GBK” – a campaign slogan that has become a rallying cry for the presidential hopeful’s legions of supporters.
“I would be very sad if Prabowo lost. I really hope for change,” said Risnawati, who had left her home after dawn prayers that day to “follow her heart” and join scores of her neighbours also attending the rally.
“As a mother and a food seller I just want affordable prices for staple goods. Now, prices of basic necessities are rising before Ramadan, especially onions and tomatoes. When I buy them at the market I feel that they’re too expensive.”
Concerns over volatile food prices and promises of a nationwide retirement plan for owners of small and medium-sized enterprises are pushing some voters like Risnawati towards Prabowo.