TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming has confirmed that his relationship with the e-commerce platform Shopee during his tenure as Solo mayor was strictly professional.

“(The relationship) is purely professional. The cooperation involved building an office in Technopark (Solo Technopark),” he said during a visit with the prospective mayoral candidate pair, Respati Ardi and Astrid Widayani, in Solo, Central Java, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

The scrutiny of Gibran's relationship with Shopee stems from the company's numerous collaborations in Solo during his 2021-2024 mayoral term. Shopee's name has been implicated in a recent case involving allegations of gratification related to the use of a private jet by Kaesang Pangarep, Gibran's younger brother and the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Regarding the use of a private jet by Kaesang and his wife, Erina Gudono, which is rumored to be a perk from Shopee, Gibran deferred inquiries to his younger brother. “Ask Kaesang,” GR responded evasively.

When questioned about whether the private jet usage was included in the cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shopee, Gibran firmly denied any such arrangement. 

“You're talking nonsense. There's nothing like that,” he asserted. He reiterated that the relationship between the Solo City government and Shopee was solely a professional partnership.

As widely reported, Kaesang has come under scrutiny following the emergence of a video clip showing him and his wife traveling to the United States aboard a private jet, Gulfstream G650.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), Boyamin Saiman, reported Kaesang who is the general chair of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). MAKI alleged that Kaesang had received gratuities in the form of luxurious facilities provided by Shopee.

In his complaint, Boyamin attached the MoU between the Solo City government and PT Shopee Internasional Indonesia, signed by the mayor of Solo at the time, Gibran Rakabuming.

SEPTIA RYANTHIE | AMELIA RAHIMA SARI | NANDITO PUTRA

Editor's Choice: Kaesang Features on Podcast Amid Public Scrutiny Over Private Jet Use

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News