Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – In an event Victory Speech at Istora Senayan, Wednesday (14/2/2024), Prabowo Subianto talked about his closeness to the Presidents of Indonesia. One interesting thing is about his relationship with President Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur.

“I used to be Gus Dur’s masseuse. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone who knows Gus Dur,” said Prabowo.

So, is that statement true?

In the investigation, these remarks were true and occurred on 14-15 May 1998. At that time, Prabowo met Gus Dur as a result of rumors circulating that he was the mastermind behind the riots that occurred in Jakarta. The three-star general met Gus Dur at midnight, before the turn of the day. Prab

“Prabowo then rushed to Gus Dur’s residence in Ciganjur to make friends,” he wrote Femi Adi Soempeno in Prabowo: From Cijantung Move to the Palace (2009)

It was here that Prabowo held special talks with NU figures who were also vocal about President Soeharto’s power. This story is further stated in Greg Barton’s article entitled Abdurrahman Wahid: Muslim Democrat, Indonesian President (2022:239).

Barton said that Prabowo came with a convoy of military vehicles to Ciganjur at exactly midnight, on May 15 at 02.00. There, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo’s son was immediately invited into Gus Dur’s room, who happened to be fast asleep.

“Prabowo knelt at the end of the bed and massaged Gus Dur’s feet,” wrote Barton. And not long after, “Gus Dur woke up and Prabowo immediately cried in despair to convince him that he was the victim of slander. He emphasized that he was not involved in violence even though the story cornered him and was circulating in the city.”

Then, Gus Dur gave his typical response.

“That’s what happens when people can’t control themselves,” said Gus Dur to Prabowo.

Prabowo was not satisfied with those words and rushed home. According to Greg Barton, the “person” Gus Dur referred to was very ambiguous. Because, it could target the riot actors or Prabowo himself.

“Prabowo came to Ciganjur hoping to get sympathy from Gus Dur. However, in reality he left without any such guarantee,” wrote Greg Barton. As a result, in the following days the accusation of masterminding the riot continued to haunt Prabowo.

However, apart from rumors of being the mastermind behind the riots, one thing is certain: Prabowo did give Gus Dur a massage.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(mfa/mfa)