Bahlil’s jab at Rudy Mas’ud: If a public official isn’t viral, they’re not top.

• Antara

VIVA – The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister and Chairman of Golkar, Bahlil Lahadalia, fired a light-hearted joke at East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud.

The quip was delivered as Bahlil praised the discovery of a new gas block in East Kalimantan by ENI and Petronas. He then asked Rudy Mas’ud to stand in front of the event participants.

“This is a new step. Here is the governor, there is the governor. Mr Rudy, stand up, Mr Rudy. This is the Governor of East Kalimantan who is currently viral,” Bahlil said, as seen on Instagram @idnvoice, Saturday 23 May 2026.

It is understood the moment occurred during the opening and inauguration of the IPA Convention and Exhibition 2026 at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Bahlil then continued the joke about the dynamics faced by a public official. According to him, public attention is normal in governance.

“The one who’s viral. Mr Rudy, if we become officials and not viral, we’re not top. Because we’re viral, we’re top. The plus and minus are normal. It’s just about how we manage and navigate it. In other words, we have to spin it a little, something like that,” he said.

On the same occasion, Bahlil also encouraged Rudy Mas’ud to continue facing various criticisms and political dynamics that arise.

“It’s okay, you’re the Chairman of Golkar, it’s fine. So there’s no retreating,” Bahlil stated.

Earlier, several of Rudy Mas’ud’s policies had attracted public attention in East Kalimantan. One involved the procurement of an official car worth Rp8.5 billion, and the latest related to a laundry budget of Rp450 million.

Additionally, plans to renovate the official residence with a budget reaching Rp25 billion also sparked public criticism and led to protests in East Kalimantan.