Hoax! Zulhas did not say the people's only duty is to pay taxes

Jakarta - A social media post depicting Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan holding a banner has been confirmed as a hoax. The banner contained a narrative addressed to the public, in which the man familiarly known as Zulhas allegedly told the people not to meddle in government affairs. The chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) was also quoted as emphasising that the people’s only duty is to pay taxes. The narrative falsely attributed to Zulhas, which circulated on Facebook on 14 June 2026, read: “ZULKIFLI HASAN: THE PEOPLE HAVE ONLY ONE TASK, WHICH IS TO PAY TAXES, SO THEY SHOULD NOT INTERFERE IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.” However, the claim is untrue. This narrative, attributed to Coordinating Minister Zulhas, is an old piece of disinformation that was recirculated on social media in June 2026. On 28 April 2026, the official website of Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Food had already refuted the post containing the condemnation that misappropriated the name of the former Trade Minister under President Jokowi. Based on investigation, no official statement from Zulkifli Hasan mentioning such a thing was ever found. The claim linking Coordinating Minister Zulhas to the condemnatory narrative on social media is a hoax.