Bahlil's Joke: Lailatul Qadar for Golkar If Seats Increase

Golkar Party chairman Bahlil Lahadalia quipped during the commemoration of Nuzul al-Qur’an and a breaking of fast organised by Golkar. He said Lailatul Qadar for Golkar is the increase in seats. He began by noting that Muslims are now entering the late phase of Ramadan, believed to be the time of Lailatul Qadar’s descent, and likened the Ramadan journey to a time path that moves from noon toward the end of the holy month.

‘We are already welcoming Lailatul Qadar, because the sun is starting to descend. In human terms, we are now at 12 o’clock, tomorrow it will start to descend to 1 o’clock,’ he said in his address at the Golkar Central Leadership Council in West Jakarta on Friday, 6 March 2026.

Bahlil said Lailatul Qadar will descend upon those blessed, joking that for Golkar it means more seats. ‘God willing, for those who are always blessed, a glimmer of hope Lailatul Qadar has started to descend. But for the Golkar Party, Lailatul Qadar is when seats increase,’ he added.

Furthermore, Bahlil said the Nuzul al-Qur’an commemoration is not merely to recall the first revelation, but also a moment for reflection to strengthen closeness with the Qur’an. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources stated that the Qur’anic values can also serve as a guide in wielding power. According to him, power must be exercised on a foundation of ethics and morality.

‘So if Golkar cadres in the executive or legislative, this is not just about seizing power, but power as a mandate must become rahmatan lil-’alamin,’ he said. ‘Because every power, God willing, will become an instrument of devotion and we will be accountable later on Yaumul Mahshar when we return to the One True God, and it will be asked how great the benefit of what you have obtained when entrusted with leadership for this nation,’ he added.

Moreover, Bahlil touched on the Qur’anic message on economic justice. He said the Qur’an asserts that wealth should not circulate only among the rich, but must be distributed fairly within society. ‘Indeed, when there is a large economic gap, the Qur’an indicates and commands that monopoly of economy should not occur,’ he explained. ‘Thus not only in the constitution or national aims, not only in Pancasila, but apparently in the Qur’an it also commands that wealth should not be owned by a select group; it must be shared equitably, which aligns with Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution,’ he added.