Fedi Nuril: Public Must Become the Opposition

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - He rose to fame after playing a polygamous husband in a movie. Today, actor Fedi Nuril is popular on social media as a social-political commentator, raising his voice against political hijacking at the end of the Joko Widodo administration and Jokowi's intervention in the 2024 presidential election. While Fedi plays opposite other actors in movie projects, on social media, he often has to deal with buzzers.

Fedi’s tweets on X, particularly regarding Prabowo Subianto’s track record as well as the Jokowi administration’s legal and ethics violations have been widely discussed. Netizens who make simplistic comments about many things, label Fedi a Prabowo-hater. Just ahead of presidential election day, Fedi said that he did not wish to see the perpetrator of the 1998 activist kidnappings become the next president. “There is no empathy for the families of the 1998 kidnapped victims,” rebuked the actor, whose real name is Fedrian Nuril.

Fedi referred to historical facts surrounding the 1998 Reformasi in his criticism. Prabowo was discharged from military service by the Officers’ Honor Council for his part in the kidnappings and forced disappearances of pro-democracy activists. His position at the time was Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command with the rank of lieutenant general. Former Chair of the Democratic People’s Party (PRD) and former activist Budiman Sudjatmiko said Prabowo never denied the charge that he had kidnapped the activists.

Fedi in fact is no stranger to the military – Prabowo’s background which he has been protesting of late. His father was an army colonel. Nuril Rachman, who died in 1993, encouraged his son to enter the Military Academy. Fedi did not pass screening because he is nearsighted. He inherited from his father many books that inspired him to criticize the government.

It was not easy to ask Fedi to discuss his political activities. Tempo journalists invited him several times to participate in the Bocor Alus Politik podcast on election day, February 14, and the “Peringatan Darurat (Emergency Warning)” demonstration on August 22,  protesting the planned revision of the Regional Election Law. “I wasn’t available each time they asked,” said Fedi, who played Fahri in the hit movie Ayat-Ayat Cinta, before bursting out in laughter.

Fedi only responded to an interview request when Tempo prepared this special report on civil society movement resisting the arbitrariness of the Jokowi regime, which is being continued by Prabowo under the pretext of sustainability. Fedi adeptly answered the questions of Tempo reporters, Sunudyantoro, Friski Riana and Yosea Arga Pramudita, at the Ruma Coffeeatery, a South Jakarta coffee shop, on Monday, December 16.

What moved you to become critical?

Actually, I’ve been interested in government issues ever since college. I began to actively speak out more recently when Prabowo Subianto decided to run for president once again. I decided to take part.

Aren’t you afraid of speaking out?

There is fear. That’s human. But my anger is stronger than my fear.

Aren’t you worried that you might be criminalized via the Information and Electronic Transaction Law?

That’s why I make sure that I really understand what I’m talking about when I speak out in debate. So, if I end up being criminalized, netizens would see what happens to me as a situation being messed up. I see that now is the opportunity to speak out because the authorities are being careful. If they do things that lead to authoritarianism, they are finished.

Have you ever been concerned that your work may be boycotted because of your stance?

I’ve seen my friends in the creative world get into legal cases and end up in jail. They returned to work and were welcomed back into society after their release. It would be absurd if my stance caused my career to decline, and no producer would want to work with me again. If that happens, then I will worry even more about this country’s situation.

How did you muster up the courage?

As the 2024 presidential election approached, the authorities needed as many votes as possible. Prabowo is now president, and they are very careful in their actions. If one person goes missing, everyone will be immediately suspicious. It will definitely attract the attention of the international community. That’s one of the sources of my strength.

Have you ever been threatened for actively criticizing the government?

There was a kind of threat. Someone said, “Be careful in future if your thumbs become like that.” I asked the sender right away, “Is this a threat?” You are carried away by emotions if you face frequent threats for nothing. I also received a message from someone who hoped the New Order would return so that people like me could be ‘petrused’.

(Petrus is the portmanteau of penembak misterius (mysterious shooters), a secret operation during the Soeharto era that targeted thugs and criminals).

How did you handle it?

I took a screenshot of the chat and spread it across social media. I don’t know if the message is a threat or not. But it didn’t affect me, even if it is really a threat.

What responses did you receive following your tweet ‘As long as it is not 02’?

The Number 02 camp, or the supporters of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are the noisiest. I was stunned all by the responses, and at the same time felt like I had managed to ruffle their feathers.

What was your motive at the time? To urge netizens not to vote for Prabowo?

I didn’t say whom I would vote for. I just said I wouldn’t vote for No. 2. That’s all. It turned out some were worried that my tweet would have an impact even though in the end it didn’t. It was a mere effort. And then politicians from Prabowo’s coalition approached me

Read the Full Interview in Tempo English Magazine