Head of Bakom Denies President Prabowo is Tone Deaf: He Enjoys Reading, Watching, and Listening

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Head of the Indonesian Government’s Communication Agency (Bakom), Angga Raka Prabowo, has denied that President Prabowo Subianto is insensitive (tone deaf) to the social situation in the country. President Prabowo actually listens to aspirations and pays attention to information circulating in the public domain. He obtains this information from various sources, including those accessible to the public such as podcasts, YouTube, and books that he reads. “For example, some people say the President is tone deaf today, doesn’t want to listen. Maybe he reads different information from us, perhaps his accounts are different,” said Angga Raka in the GASPOL! Kompas.com podcast, quoted on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Angga emphasised that the President’s fondness for books is immense. The Head of State is comfortable reading books for hours on end. This also demonstrates that Prabowo understands the current situation and conditions. “Well, if he can spend hours just reading, then certainly he watches,” he said. Angga Raka explained that the programmes rolled out by Prabowo also prove that the former Kopassus Deputy Commander is highly sensitive. For instance, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and People’s Schools (SR) programmes show that the plight of children from impoverished families is on President Prabowo’s mind. Angga then stressed that this concern may not be on the minds of critics, even though there are many underprivileged children around them. “So what I want to say is this: sometimes when we wake up, do we ever think (within) a 500-metre, 1-kilometre, or 2-kilometre radius from our homes, are there still Indonesian children who don’t eat? Are there still Indonesian children who don’t experience school benches? Turns out yes,” said Angga. Furthermore, Angga admitted to being struck by these programmes. As someone known to be close to President Prabowo, he now understands that these programmes, rich in noble values, are highly beneficial to Indonesian society. “The President of the Republic of Indonesia is thinking directly from the bottom. He is already considering that many Indonesian children still lack proper nutrition. Many Indonesian children still don’t go to school. Understand what I mean? Sometimes it’s us who perhaps never think about them,” Angga concluded.