UAE–Muhammadiyah flood relief and the arrogance of power in Jakarta |
In late December, a shipment of 30 tons of rice from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, intended for communities devastated by severe flooding. Medan, one of the worst-affected cities, was grappling with prolonged rainfall, displacement, and disruptions to food distribution. Yet the aid did not immediately reach those in need. Instead, it was briefly rejected—an episode that revealed not only the arrogance of power in Jakarta, but also the growing civil society cooperation in Indonesia–Middle East relations.
Initial reports described the rice as assistance from the UAE government. Acting on that assumption, local authorities decided to return the shipment, arguing that there was no formal mechanism for receiving foreign state aid. The decision was justified as regulatory compliance, even as floodwaters lingered and humanitarian needs remained acute.
Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s leadership has increasingly emphasised sovereignty and self-reliance as markers of authority. In crisis situations, that posture can harden into rigidity—where accepting........