Benny K. Harman Apologises After Telling Journalists to 'Use Your Brain'

Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party, Benny K. Harman, has issued an apology after telling journalists to ‘use their brains’ in response to repeated questions about the attendance of Indonesia’s 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) at the 2026 MPR Annual Session.

Benny explained that the incident began when members of the press asked whether SBY would attend the Annual Session and State Address by the President at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, on 14 August 2026.

He said he had already given a clear answer that SBY was in the United States undergoing a medical check-up until the end of the month, meaning he would automatically be unable to attend the state event.

‘I said that the 6th President is currently undergoing a check-up in America. Most likely until the end of the month. Therefore, he certainly would not have the opportunity to attend this state event. That was the gist of it, already clear,’ Benny said at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (11/8).

Benny admitted he spontaneously made the remark because questions about SBY’s attendance kept being repeated by journalists even though he had already explained SBY’s medical agenda abroad.

Nevertheless, the Democratic Party legislator stressed that he did not intend to offend the journalistic profession and openly apologised for his choice of words.

‘Then earlier my friends asked again, “So will Mr SBY attend or not?” Well, if he is there until the end of the month, he automatically cannot attend. Then I said, “When asking questions, these journalists need to use their brains a little, don’t ask again after it’s already been answered.” But that was not the context. So I apologise if anyone felt offended, there is no issue beyond that,’ Benny concluded.

Previously, when met by journalists at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (11/8/2026), Benny K. Harman responded with a remark considered demeaning to journalists when asked about SBY’s attendance at the MPR Annual Session.

‘Hey, you, do you have a brain or not? I already explained it, right? If he is having a check-up there until the end of the month, why are you still asking again? There are a lot of strange journalists nowadays,’ Benny said.