First Family stays cool, won't parade wealth
Play
The children of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may have no reservations about showing off their luxurious lifestyles, but the children of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who was sworn in as president yesterday, are on the other side of the fence.
Although they are far younger than the Yudhoyonos, there is no indication that they are fond of the latest Apple iPhone, Land Rover SUVs or high-end fashion, despite the fact that their parents can certainly afford such things.
As a businessman, Gibran Rakabuming, Jokowi’s eldest child, could afford to take the path of luxurious living if he chose to.
But he opts to remain humble, driving a Mazda hatchback bought from the proceeds of his catering and wedding-planning business in the family hometown of Surakarta, Central Java.
Instead of worrying about what to wear for his father’s presidential inauguration ceremony, Gibran chose to stay in Surakarta until the last moment to deal with clients who had ordered his catering services for the weekend.
While his mother and two siblings have been in Jakarta since last week to prepare for the ceremony, Gibran, 27, said a mounting workload at weekends had made it impossible for him to leave the city earlier than Sunday evening.
Gibran, who, at first glance, shares all his father’s traits, will have to adapt to a set of strict state protocols as a member of the First Family, which is subject to around-the-clock security provided by the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres).
He will surely be approached by a horde of business brokers and politicians vying to use him to secure state projects and business licences.
Gibran, however, is expecting to see his daily activities unaffected, although he realises that he will need to make some adjustments, including to the presence of Paspampres personnel. “I hope nothing changes,” he said.
“I just want to manage my business and daily activities as usual just like when my father served as mayor and governor.”
Despite the massive media coverage, Widodo has been able to keep his closest family members away from the public spotlight.
The former Surakarta mayor and Jakarta governor was rarely seen in public with their children – Gibran, daughter Kahiyang Ayu, 23, and youngest son Kaesang Pangarep, 18 – during his presidential campaign earlier this year.
While Jokowi and wife Iriana, 51, may shun excessive lifestyles, they are less reticent to spend on the best education for their children.
Jokowi sent Gibran to study in Singapore and Australia during his high school and undergraduate years.
Kahiyang has recently completed her undergraduate degree in food technology at state-run Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in Surakarta, while Kaesang, like his elder brother, completed his high school years in Singapore.
Kaesang, a gym freak with an ambition to have a six-pack abdomen, said on Sunday that nothing had changed since his father was confirmed as president-elect.
Widodo and his family have been raised to believe that modesty is of paramount importance, an ideal that is largely lacking among high-ranking public officials, who tend to provide their family members with luxuries and privileges.
Iriana is never seen wearing or carrying branded items. Her dresses are mostly purchased in Tanah Abang, said to be Southeast Asia’s largest textile and clothing market in Central Jakarta.
