Muhammad Raynan Rizky Akbar
Muhammad Raynan Rizky Akbar (Born 9 April 2005) is an Indonesian activist. Founder of the human rights organisation Aktivis Indonesia NGO and the Chairman of Muslim Students' Association (Indonesia) Commisariat Medical Brawijaya (HMI FK UB). Raynan was awarded The Best Medical Faculty Ambassador of Brawijaya University in 2025 and was regarded as the most influential activist leading a Kastrat Chapter in May and October 2025 by ISMKI. He is the son of ophthalmologist Darwan Triyono and the nephew of former Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs of Indonesia Hadi Tjahjanto.
Political activism career
Muhammad Raynan Rizky Akbar began his activism during his studies at the Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University. While still a medical student, he became involved in student advocacy, civic engagement initiatives, and political discussions concerning democracy, public policy, and youth participation in Indonesia. He is known for promoting greater involvement of medical students in social and political affairs.
In December 2023, Raynan founded the non-governmental organization (NGO) Aktivis Indonesia and subsequently served as its founder and coordinator. The organization was established as an independent platform focusing on public advocacy, civic participation, and the dissemination of social, political, economic, and cultural issues relevant to Indonesian society.
In 2024, he became a member of the Student Parliament of the Faculty of Medicine at Brawijaya University. The following year, in 2025, he served as Minister of Action, Research, and Propaganda within the student parliament, where he was involved in organizing policy studies, student mobilization efforts, and advocacy campaigns.
During 2025, Raynan emerged as a prominent figure in student activism within the Brawijaya University Medical Complex, which includes the faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences. He participated in and coordinated student actions concerning democratic governance, state accountability, public spending policies, and opposition to controversial legislative initiatives. One of the most notable episodes of his activism occurred during protests against revisions to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Law in March 2025, where he was reported to have helped mobilize students from health-related faculties in Malang.
On 21 February 2026, Raynan received the mandate as Formateur of Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, for the 2026–2027 term. He subsequently assumed office as Chairman (Ketua Umum) of HMI FK UB in March 2026. Under his leadership, the organization emphasized cadre development, intellectual discourse, civic engagement, and organizational reform aimed at strengthening the role of medical students in public affairs.
As coordinator of Aktivis Indonesia and leader within HMI FK UB, Raynan has advocated for youth political participation, democratic engagement, freedom of expression, and the involvement of students in addressing social issues. His activism has been associated with efforts to build stronger connections between academic communities and broader civil society movements in Indonesia.
Controversy and familial connection to the government
In 2025, several Indonesian media outlets and commentators reported that Muhammad Raynan Rizky Akbar has a family relationship with former Indonesian Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs and former Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Hadi Tjahjanto. According to these reports, Raynan is a nephew of Hadi Tjahjanto through an extended family connection originating from Malang, East Java.
The reports attracted public attention because Raynan had developed a public profile as a student activist and civil society organizer independently of his alleged family connection. Commentators noted the contrast between Hadi Tjahjanto's career in the military and government and Raynan's involvement in student activism, non-governmental organizations, and youth advocacy movements.
Following the emergence of the reports, discussions on social media highlighted the unexpected nature of the relationship, as Raynan's public activities had generally been associated with student organizations, civic engagement initiatives, and activist networks rather than with political elites or government institutions. No evidence has emerged indicating that the family connection played a direct role in Raynan's activist career or organizational activities.
See also
- Human rights in Indonesia