Bakom’s Head Syahganda Clarifies Past Call to Replace Gibran

Syahganda Says His Criticism of Gibran Predated Government Appointment

Tempatdonasi.com – Syahganda Nainggolan has sought to draw a firm line between comments he made as a public commentator and his current role as head of the Government Communication Agency, known as Bakom. He said his earlier call for Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to be replaced was made before President Prabowo Subianto selected him to lead the agency.

Speaking at a handover event at Bakom’s Jakarta office on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Syahganda rejected suggestions that his remarks were delivered after he entered the administration. His appointment as Bakom chief took effect on October 2, 2026.

“If my old video is circulated and then claimed to be made after the inauguration, they are actually violating journalistic principles. Because those are my old videos,” Syahganda said.

The disputed remarks came from an appearance on a podcast hosted by Refly Harun, a constitutional law lecturer at Tarumanagara University. The episode was uploaded to YouTube on September 14, 2026, weeks before Syahganda became part of the government.

From Outside Commentator to Government Official

Syahganda said the timing matters because his position and obligations have changed. When he criticized Gibran, he was acting outside the government structure and speaking from an independent perspective. As a senior official now working within the administration, he said he must support the President’s direction.

“However, inside the government system, I must automatically align with the President,” he remarked.

Bakom plays a public communication role within the government, making its leadership closely connected to the administration’s broader policy and messaging priorities. Syahganda emphasized that he cannot maintain a separate political agenda while serving in that capacity.

“Whatever vision the President sets, I must follow, so we regret that certain media outlets are still irresponsible like that,” he said.

He also described the President and Vice President as operating within one governing framework. In his view, the role of officials in the administration is to carry out that shared direction rather than publicly promote personal positions that conflict with it.

“As part of the government, the President and Vice President share the same thoughts. We execute that vision. That is the essence of it,” Syahganda said.

What Syahganda Said in the Earlier Podcast

In the September interview, Syahganda had argued that Gibran should no longer remain Vice President. He questioned whether Gibran possessed the authority required for the office and raised concerns over the education credentials of the eldest son of former President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“That is why I said it is time for the Vice President to be replaced. Gibran, enough is enough, as you are no longer deserving. It is clear that there are diploma flaws, constitutional flaws, and so on,” Syahganda stated in the podcast.

His explanation this week did not retract the fact that those statements were made. Instead, it focused on the context in which they were delivered and on the distinction between his previous public role and his present responsibilities as a government official.

The clarification reflects how past interviews, speeches, and online videos can take on new political significance when a public figure joins an administration. Material originally produced before an appointment may circulate again after the individual assumes office, potentially creating the impression that an earlier view represents the position of the government itself.

Questions Surrounding Gibran’s Credentials

The earlier podcast discussion touched on the longstanding public controversy over Gibran’s educational documents and constitutional eligibility. The issue has been examined through legal and political channels, including a case involving claims about his high school-equivalent diploma.

A top court found no proof that Vice President Gibran holds a high school-equivalent diploma. That finding remains part of the broader debate surrounding his credentials, although Syahganda’s latest remarks centered on the chronology of his own comments rather than on a new legal development involving the Vice President.

Gibran serves alongside President Prabowo in the current administration. Syahganda’s statement indicates that he now regards the President’s vision as the operative guide for Bakom and for his work in government communication.

For readers following the controversy, the key point is the sequence of events: the podcast was published on September 14, 2026; Syahganda was appointed Bakom head on October 2; and he issued his clarification at the October 6 handover ceremony. He maintains that presenting the podcast comments as though they were made after his appointment is inaccurate.

The episode illustrates the tension that can arise when former critics move into official positions. Public figures may have an extensive record of opinions formed before entering government, while the expectations attached to office require them to represent and implement the administration’s collective agenda.