Hasan Nasbi on Prabowo's 'Londo Ireng' Remark: It is a Term for Those Who Love Creating Turmoil

The Special Adviser to the President for Communications, Hasan Nasbi, has explained President Prabowo Subianto’s use of the term ‘londo ireng’. He stated that the term was not intended for the general public, but rather for groups suspected of frequently creating turmoil.

“It is merely a term for some people who seem to prefer creating noise. They seem to prefer being pessimistic about our nation’s life. And some of them hold professions similar to ours,” Hasan Nasbi told reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, on Friday, 31 July 2026.

He further explained that President Prabowo’s intention was to remind the public to remain united, cohesive, and optimistic about their own nation. “Instead of increasing turmoil, we should increase cohesion. We must increase optimism, reduce pessimism, strengthen our confidence in our nation, and eliminate feelings of pessimism so that we can progress more quickly,” he explained.

Previously, the term ‘londo ireng’ became a subject of public debate after President Prabowo used it during a speech commemorating the PKB anniversary at JCC, Senayan, on Thursday, 23 July 2026. During the speech, Prabowo stated that the government is not anti-criticism, but noted that there are parties who do not merely offer criticism, but also manipulate public opinion to suggest that Indonesia is in a poor condition.

According to Prabowo, these parties represent a new form of ‘londo ireng’, a term that during the colonial era referred to Indonesians who sided with the Dutch. He specifically cited professions such as journalists, observers, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as examples of the parties he was referring to.