Bahlil Seeks Permission to Call Prabowo 'Kakanda' to Accelerate Processing

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister and Chairman of the HIPMI Honorary Council Bahlil Lahadalia made a joking remark in front of President Prabowo Subianto. He asked permission to call Prabowo ‘kanda’ to foster a more familiar relationship. The jest was made by Bahlil during the opening ceremony of the 18th National Conference of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) in Lampung on Wednesday. Bahlil initially addressed MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani as ‘kanda’. “The respected Speaker of the MPR RI, my brother Mr Ahmad Muzani, perhaps to be more familiar we call him Kanda Ahmad Muzani,” he said. Bahlil then revealed that the ‘kanda’ address was pioneered within HIPMI. Therefore, he requested permission to call Prabowo ‘kanda’. “Earlier we had an aspiration, Sir, that the ‘kanda-dinda’ address actually originated in HIPMI, Sir,” he stated. “If you would be willing, I ask permission, Sir, without diminishing our respect, we would also like to call Kakanda the President Mr Prabowo Subianto,” Bahlil continued. He subsequently sought approval from the HIPMI members present, who unanimously responded in agreement. “Do you agree?” Bahlil asked. “So we can be closer, Sir, so that our processing can be entered quickly,” Bahlil added, met with thunderous applause from the HIPMI members.