Abbas was an unsuccessful candidate in the general election of Regional Head for Kolaka in Southeast Sulawesi in October 2013.

"[2] He also ran unsuccessfully as a legislative candidate in the 2014 presidential elections to represent the third electoral district of Jakarta in Senayan.

[5] Abbas became involved in controversy when he commented on Twitter regarding the case of car registration imposed by Jakarta's co-government Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (also known as Ahok).

As a result, Abbas has reported Chairman of the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association Anton Medan and Intellectual Community of Muda Betawi leader Ramdan Alamsyah to Polda Metro Jaya.

[11] Abbas was alleged to have had an affair with his spokeswoman, Regina Andriane Saputra, the wife of politician Ilal Ferhard.