Is this Indonesia’s next president?

{"text":[[{"start":7.274,"text":"Wearing traditional clothes and sobbing profusely, the governor of Indonesia’s West Java carried the casket of a popular musician through rice fields to their final resting place — moments captured on camera and posted on his social media platforms to millions of followers who often ask him to run for the presidency."}],[{"start":26.56,"text":"Dedi Mulyadi, a former motorcycle taxi driver and kite seller, has seen a meteoric rise, fuelled by his prolific use of social media that has helped establish a deep rapport with voters who see him as a man of the people."}],[{"start":39.794,"text":"The 55-year-old has been in charge of the country’s most populous province for only 19 months but has already become Indonesians’ favourite pick for the presidency in multiple recent opinion polls, outranking the struggling incumbent Prabowo Subianto by a wide margin."}],[{"start":55.818,"text":"Kang Dedi Mulyadi, with “kang” meaning older brother in Sundanese, posts multiple videos online every day about his daily activities, explaining policies and answering complaints. KDM, as he is known, is shown chatting with the masses in markets and restaurants and is also seen distributing cash to people in need."}],[{"start":74.446,"text":"“His social media hyperactivity coupled with his antithetical personality to the increasingly unpopular and elitist Prabowo” had boosted his popularity, said Kennedy Muslim, an analyst with pollster Indikator Politik. Dedi’s social media activity has earned him the moniker “Content Governor”, with critics saying he focuses on creating social media content rather than governing."}],[{"start":97.25,"text":"But his humble background and empathy shown on social media have appealed to Indonesians who are increasingly struggling to make ends meet."}],[{"start":105.328,"text":"A July poll by SMRC showed Dedi’s presidential electability at 35 per cent, more than twice Prabowo’s 14.5 per cent and far ahead of other politicians. In a head-to-head race, the survey showed that 59 per cent would vote for Dedi as president and only 28.3 per cent for Prabowo."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":124.84,"text":"Since Indonesia started electing presidents directly in 2004, Prabowo is the first president to see his popularity decline within the first two years of his term, according to three pollsters interviewed by the FT."}],[{"start":135.46,"text":"“Prabowo is the weakest incumbent we have had,” said Deni Irvani, executive director of SMRC, adding that, unusually for a provincial official, Dedi’s popularity extended beyond West Java."}],[{"start":148.656,"text":"“Awareness of him is immense, around 90 per cent of Indonesians know Dedi . . . largely because his outreach and daily activities are massively publicised across social media,” said Deni. “The public perception about his empathy is what makes him likeable.”"}],[{"start":164.991,"text":"In the West Javan capital of Bandung, Dedi’s popularity is evident. “He is such a good person. To me, he’s like an angel walking the earth,” said Raty, 60, who checks YouTube every day to look for new content from Dedi."}],[{"start":179.835,"text":"Dedi, a law graduate, has an online persona that is in sharp contrast to Prabowo, who has also previously used social media to great electoral advantage in the 2024 election — during which he became known as the “dancing grandpa” — but for many epitomises the Indonesian elite."}],[{"start":198,"text":"A former general, Prabowo has been involved in Indonesian politics for almost three decades after a 28-year career in the military."}],[{"start":205.95,"text":"A general election is still three years away, but Prabowo’s deepening unpopularity — due to his administration’s mis-steps in major policies and a sharp sell-off in the stock markets and the rupiah currency — has opened up space for rivals among the country’s 200mn-strong electorate."}],[{"start":223.84,"text":"“When people are disappointed with a national leader, they look for a contrast, an alternative. In the public’s view, Dedi fits [this],” said Djayadi Hanan from another pollster Lembaga Survei Indonesia."}],[{"start":235.397,"text":"“KDM engages directly with the community on a daily basis, while Prabowo tends to deliver speeches from a podium. KDM is willing to acknowledge problems and admit shortcomings. Prabowo never admits to any faults.”"}],[{"start":249.445,"text":"Dedi has, however, also attracted controversy. Last year, he called for children to be sent to the military barracks if they caused trouble and for men from lower-income groups to undergo a vasectomy before seeking government handouts."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":262.44,"text":"In Bandung, Raty regrets voting for Prabowo, who she says has failed to implement his policies. “Prabowo talks a lot but has nothing to show for it. Unlike KDM . . . he speaks, but he also takes action,” she said, voicing support for his push to clear the streets of illegal vendors."}],[{"start":280.64,"text":"Still, success at an election is by no means a given."}],[{"start":284.699,"text":"If Dedi decides to run, he may have to find another party to support his candidacy as he belongs to the same party as Prabowo, who is 74 and has expressed willingness to run for a second term."}],[{"start":297.62,"text":"His record may also come under more scrutiny."}],[{"start":299.068,"text":"Popular policies include a plan to clear the streets of illegal kiosks and buildings and a brief moratorium on housing permits in areas prone to disasters. As regent of the Purwakarta region for 10 years, he earned praise for improving public facilities. West Java is the country’s most populous province and one of its primary manufacturing hubs and, as such, may be vulnerable to job losses as the economy comes under pressure."}],[{"start":326.08,"text":"“If he intends to run, highlighting his personal side won’t be enough,” said SMRC’s Deni. “The public will ultimately judge him based on [his] policies.”"}],[{"start":335.189,"text":"Dedi has not commented on the opinion polls nor publicly expressed any interest in running for the presidency. His office did not respond to FT requests for comment and an interview. He has rarely commented on Prabowo’s policies. Last year, he called for Prabowo’s signature free-meals programme to be halted after hundreds of students in West Java became sick from food poisoning."}],[{"start":358.14,"text":"In response to questions on the opinion polls, the Government Communications Agency said Prabowo “remains focused on fulfilling the mandate entrusted to him for the current term rather than on electoral calculations or discussions about a future presidential election”."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":373.84,"text":"Dedi appears to be stepping up efforts to boost his national visibility. In August, he visited an earthquake-affected province on the island of Flores even before Prabowo did. In one video Dedi posted on his social media, he’s seen handing out wads of cash to a victim, who cries and thanks the governor."}],[{"start":391.271,"text":"For many Indonesians, there is little doubt Dedi is a credible alternative to Prabowo."}],[{"start":396.439,"text":"In Bandung, street vendor Gema Mahendra said Prabowo’s policies and their implementation were “always at odds with the community”. He will vote for Dedi if the governor decides to run for the presidency."}],[{"start":409.36,"text":"“He often goes out into the streets to meet people, he is kind and speaks with solutions. I think he’s capable,” the vendor said."}],[{"start":419.11,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1789969691_8443.mp3"}