November 24, 2023
JAKARTA – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto says he has visited Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating maritime affairs minister, who is recovering in Singapore. Luhut has been undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital since October.
Prabowo said Luhut’s health was gradually improving, although it will still take some time for a full recovery and adjustment.
Prabowo a former commander of the Army’s Special Forces expressed his happiness upon observing the current well-being of his former senior comrade in the Army. Additionally, Luhut is eager to resume active duties as a close aide to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
“Alhamdulillah [thank God] he has recovered, though it takes time for adjustment. So, I am very pleased that he is already eager to start working again, but everyone is asking him to adapt gradually,” said Prabowo.
Luhut has been receiving medical care in the Singaporean hospital since last month. He candidly shared this information with the public through his personal Instagram account @luhut.pandjaitan on Oct. 10. “After attending an event a few days ago, I suddenly felt an extremely unusual fatigue. This fatigue was unlike what I usually experience after work,” Luhut said in his post.
Luhut provided another update on his health on Nov. 18. He said that he is now able to participate in light exercises like walking and lifting weights.
“I’ve been walking every day, gradually covering a distance of 1.5–2 kilometers. I’ve also started lifting weights a bit and attempted a short plank, although it was just for 15 seconds,” Luhut wrote.
Luhut, who seems eager to leave the hospital, said there had been no significant changes in himself since before receiving treatment up to the period after recovery and joked that the only observable difference was a visible graying of his hair.
“The only difference is that the hair color needs to be re-polished. This different hair color is perhaps a sign that I miss the atmosphere in Indonesia,” he said.