Jakarta. Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, a lawmaker and niece of President Prabowo Subianto, announced her resignation from the House of Representatives on Wednesday following public backlash over controversial remarks she made in a podcast earlier this year.

Rahayu, 39, who won a parliamentary seat in the 2024 election, said her comments during a February 28 podcast had been edited and circulated out of context, sparking public anger. Nevertheless, she said she would take full responsibility.

In the podcast, she urged young Indonesians not to depend on the government for jobs, likening such attitudes to the colonial era.

“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 in the interview.

The remarks drew sharp criticism, particularly from young people struggling with high unemployment and limited opportunities.

In a video statement posted on Instagram, Rahayu apologized and acknowledged 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 she had submitted her resignation letter to the Gerindra Party, led by her uncle, President Prabowo.

Gerindra’s parliamentary secretary Bambang Haryadi said the party respected her decision. “The Gerindra faction in parliament honors this choice and will process it according to existing regulations. While awaiting procedures, [Rahayu] has been deactivated from parliamentary duties,” he said.

A Political and Personal Profile
Rahayu most recently served as deputy chair of Commission VII, overseeing industry, small and medium enterprises, the creative economy, and tourism. She is the daughter of businessman Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Prabowo’s younger brother.

Married to entrepreneur Harwendro Aditya Dewanto, she is also the mother of two children. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Rahayu has held senior positions at companies under the Arsari Group, including Arsari Duta Semesta, Arsari Putra Indonesia, and Arsari Media Internasional.

Beyond business, she has been active in humanitarian causes, notably as head of the anti-human trafficking division at the Wadah Titian Harapan Foundation. Her career has also spanned film and media, serving as director of The Legacy Pictures Pte Ltd in 2013, and acting 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 but lost her seat in the 2019 election. She returned in 2024, this time representing Jakarta, where she won nearly 53,000 votes.