‘Good people are often first ‘murdered’ in politics’ - Syed Saddiq voices solidarity with Nadiem Makarim amid Indonesia corruption case
He believes reform-minded individuals are often targeted by entrenched systems resistant to change.
SHAH ALAM - Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has expressed solidarity with Indonesian former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim following Indonesian prosecutors’ request for an 18-year prison sentence in a corruption case involving the procurement of Chromebook laptops during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a message shared on Threads, Saddiq said he believes reform-minded individuals are often targeted by entrenched systems resistant to change, adding that good people are frequently the first to be “murdered” in politics as legal proceedings in high-profile cases intensify.
“To my brother Nadiem, good people are often first ‘murdered’ in politics so that a broken, corrupt or decaying system can continue to protect itself.
“I understand your intentions and sincerity. You left comfort and significant success with Gojek to serve Indonesia, yet you are now being treated unfairly.
“I went through six years of hardship myself before and Alhamdulillah, the truth eventually prevailed. Allah SWT is with those who are oppressed. Truth may take time, but it does not disappear. My prayers and full solidarity are with you, brother,” he wrote.
The remarks come after Indonesian prosecutors on May 13 sought an 18-year prison sentence against Nadiem over allegations of corruption involving procurement decisions during his tenure as education minister.
Prosecutors allege that Nadiem was involved in manipulating tender specifications to favour Google’s Chrome-based systems, which allegedly became the dominant platform in Indonesia’s education ecosystem during the pandemic period.
Authorities further claimed that the procurement process resulted in state losses estimated at approximately US$125.64 million, alongside alleged personal enrichment amounting to about 809 billion rupiah (US$46.33 million).
Investigators also argued that the decision-making process was influenced by meetings with Google representatives, despite earlier assessments suggesting that Chromebook devices were unsuitable for regions with limited internet connectivity.
Nadiem, who stepped down as CEO of Gojek in 2019 before serving as education minister until 2024, has denied the allegations.
His legal team has criticised the prosecution’s case, arguing that key defence evidence was not adequately considered. A verdict is expected in June.
Several other officials implicated in related proceedings have already received prison sentences of up to four and a half years, highlighting the wider scope of the investigation.
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