Jakarta. The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday rejected the resignation of Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, a Gerindra Party legislator and niece of President Prabowo Subianto, following an ethics review that found no wrongdoing related to her remarks in a podcast that sparked public debate.

House Ethics Council Chairman Nazaruddin Dek Gam said the council found no ethical violations committed by Rahayu and confirmed she remains a sitting member of parliament for the 2024–2029 term.

“After reviewing the legal aspects, the rules of the Ethics Council, and the findings of the Gerindra Party, we decided that Rahayu Saraswati remains a member of the House for the 2024–2029 period,” Nazaruddin said in a statement.

He added that the decision was made during a meeting attended by four of the five council leaders, making it legally valid.

Nazaruddin also cited an internal investigation by the Gerindra Party, which concluded that Rahayu had not violated any ethical or legal provisions.

Resignation and Public Controversy
Rahayu, 39, who was elected to parliament in the 2024 general election, submitted her resignation letter in September, saying her comments from a February 28 podcast had been edited and circulated out of context, leading to widespread backlash.

In the podcast, she urged young Indonesians to avoid depending on the government for jobs, comparing such dependency to colonial-era mindsets.

“If we still rely on labor-intensive sectors and on the government to provide jobs, it means we are still living in colonial times -- when we depended on kings, queens, and nobility to give us work. No, we’ve moved on from that,” Rahayu said during the interview.

Her remarks drew sharp criticism, especially from young Indonesians facing high unemployment and limited job opportunities.

Rahayu later posted a video apology on Instagram, acknowledging that her words had caused offense.

“It was never my intention to belittle or undermine the struggles of Indonesians, especially young people seeking jobs amid many challenges. The fault lies entirely with me. I sincerely apologize,” she said.

Rahayu confirmed that she had submitted her resignation to the Gerindra Party, which is led by her uncle, President Prabowo Subianto.

She currently serves as deputy chair of Commission VII, which oversees industry, small and medium enterprises, the creative economy, and tourism.

A daughter of businessman Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Prabowo’s younger brother, Rahayu is married to entrepreneur Harwendro Aditya Dewanto and is a mother of two.

A University of Virginia graduate, she has held senior roles within the Arsari Group, including Arsari Duta Semesta, Arsari Putra Indonesia, and Arsari Media Internasional.

Beyond her corporate career, Rahayu is active in humanitarian causes, leading the anti-human trafficking division at the Wadah Titian Harapan Foundation. Her earlier work in film and media includes directing The Legacy Pictures Pte Ltd in 2013 and starring in the “Merah Putih” film trilogy in 2009. She also hosted television programs such as Talk Indonesia and Hot Indonesia.

Rahayu first entered parliament in 2014 representing Central Java, lost her seat in 2019, and returned in 2024, representing Jakarta with nearly 53,000 votes.

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