Even after being declared the Vice President-elect in the 2024 General Elections, Gibran has yet to be free from whispers of doubt regarding his leadership competency.
However, his success in initiating various infrastructure projects during his tenure as the mayor of Solo, Central Java, has started to prompt a broader population to perceive him as a capable national leader.
After serving the people of Solo for nearly four years, the eldest of President Jokowi’s three children has managed some feats that have helped stimulate the economy of the city and its surroundings.
Under his command, not only did Solo witness the revitalization of dozens of infrastructures and facilities, but also hosted various international-level sports and entertainment events successfully.
It is believed that all those achievements positively affected the economy, given that such projects and events naturally led to an increase in demand for workers, pushed up hotel occupancy rates, and drew more people to the tourist sites the city has to offer.
For instance, the majestic Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Banjarsari Sub-district attracted over three million visitors throughout 2023.
Gembong Hadiwibowo, an official at the Tourism and Culture Office of Solo, noted that the presence of the house of worship has increased the city’s regional original revenue (PAD).
“Tourists are coming by to taste the foods offered (near the mosque). This trend has been propelling the turnover of local micro, small, and medium enterprises,” he informed.
Based on data from the Regional Financial and Asset Management Agency (BPKAD) of Solo, the contribution of taxes to the city’s PAD reached nearly Rp450 billion (around Rp16,146 = USD1) in 2023, an increase of Rp33 billion compared to the previous year.
Besides the mosque, Gibran also paid close attention to some other locations when he was in office. For instance, he took the initiative to work with several ministries to revitalize Balekambang Park, Solo Safari Zoo, Lokananta Music Studio, Mangkunegaran Temple, Jongke Market, and Surakarta Royal Palace, among others.
Even after stepping away from his mayoral position on July 16, 2024, Gibran said he remained determined to ensure a brighter future for the 600 thousand residents of his hometown.
This year, Gibran has directed the Solo municipal government to pursue the construction of several new facilities and infrastructure, including the Indonesia-Emirates Cardiology Hospital and Solo Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.
It is also worth noting that Gibran has managed to bring Solo into the UNESCO Creative City Network, presenting the city with new hope for cultural and economic development.
The Vice President-elect earlier said that this year, the city government placed its focus on human resource development by intensifying the construction of educational infrastructures.
“We have erected plenty of physical (infrastructures) in the last three years. Hence, we will aim to pay closer attention to the development of non-physical ones,” he added.
In the hopes of supporting human resource development, the Solo government has also established investment cooperation in artificial intelligence with the government of India.
Handing over the baton
Winning the vice presidency for the 2024–2029 period means Gibran had to hand over the mayorship baton to his deputy, Teguh Prakosa, who was installed as the new leader of Solo on July 19 evening.
Gibran and his wife Selvi Ananda attended Prakosa’s inauguration ceremony. Speaking before his successor and acting Central Java Governor Nana Sudjana, Gibran expressed confidence about Solo reaching the next level under Prakosa.
“I hereby entrust the city of Solo to you. There are still a lot of works and construction projects that need to be completed this year,” he told his successor.
Despite having vacated his office at the Surakarta Town Hall after tendering his resignation to Solo's legislative council (DPRD) on July 16, the soon-to-be right hand of President-elect Prabowo Subianto has retained his sincere regard for the city.
In line with his determination to enhance the quality of Solo’s human resources, Gibran has continued to actively visit suburban uninhabitable houses. He has promised to ensure that the program for the rehabilitation of such houses continues.
“This house still has no floor tiles. We will continue the work, Madam,” he told a resident of Joyosuran Village in Pasarkliwon Sub-district recently.
The former mayor said he believes that inhabitable homes — to a certain degree — can help suppress the prevalence of childhood stunting, or chronic malnutrition, which tend to hinder the emergence of talented children.
Gibran’s first-hand contact with residents has provided them with some kind of assurance that the government is present in their lives. It is safe to say that leaders must interact with the people to show that they side with them.
After learning about the feats Gibran achieved in the last four years as the leader of Solo, it will only be natural for his critics to shift their view of the 36-year old politician to the better.
With the valuable experiences gained during his mayorship of Solo at his disposal, President Jokowi’s eldest son will face brand new and taller challenges as the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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