Judge Probes Origin of 'Mas Menteri' Nickname Directed at Nadiem, Quips About 'Mas Wapres' Too

A panel of judges examined the testimony of former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim regarding the origin of the nickname “Mas Menteri” (literally “Mr Minister”). The judges even enquired whether Nadiem was comfortable with the appellation.

The question was posed by the judges whilst Nadiem testified as a crown witness in the alleged corruption case concerning the procurement of Chromebook and Chrome Device Management (CDM) devices at the Jakarta Anticorruption Court on Tuesday, 9 March 2026. The defendants in the case are Mulyatsyah, Director of the Secondary Education Division at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology in 2020; Sri Wahyuningsih, Director of the Primary School Division within the Directorate General of Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education for 2020-2021; and Ibrahim Arief, known as Ibam, a consultant.

Nadiem stated that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was the first person to call him “Mas Menteri”, after which the nickname became widely publicised.

“Mas Menteri, I’ve just read that this is actually an alias, this ‘Mas Menteri’ moniker – where did this ‘Mas Menteri’ come from?” asked chief judge Purwanto S Abdullah.

“President Jokowi was the one who first called me ‘Mas Menteri’. After that it became quite viral,” Nadiem replied.

Nadiem acknowledged that he felt comfortable being called “Mas Menteri” at the time. The judge then mentioned that there was also a “Mas Wapres” (Mr Vice President) nickname, which prompted laughter from Nadiem and courtroom visitors.

“Were you quite comfortable being called ‘Mas Menteri’?” the judge asked.

“Yes, back when I was minister, it was comfortable, Your Honour,” Nadiem responded.

“There’s also ‘Mas Wapres’, isn’t there,” the judge remarked, eliciting laughter from Nadiem and gallery spectators.

“Ha-ha-ha,” laughed Nadiem and the courtroom.

“The thing is, I’m not a Javanese person, so I’m afraid of using it incorrectly. But it’s comfortable, right – perhaps when I meet the ‘Mas Wapres’ one day, I could call him that too,” the judge continued.

The judge further asked whether only close associates addressed Nadiem by the “Mas Menteri” nickname. Nadiem stated that even ride-sharing drivers referred to him as “Mas Menteri”.

“So only people close to you call you that? People you know? Or how does it work?” the judge enquired.

“No, quite a lot of people do. Gojek drivers also call me ‘Mas Menteri’,” Nadiem answered.

“Alright. A small prelude to ease the tension a bit,” the judge remarked.

Previously, the indictment hearing for Mulyatsyah, Sri and Ibam was held on Tuesday, 16 December 2025. Prosecutors alleged that the three caused state financial losses totalling Rp 2.1 trillion in the matter.

Prosecutors stated that the Rp 2.1 trillion loss calculation comprised inflated Chromebook laptop prices of Rp 1,567,888,662,716.74 (1.5 trillion). Additionally, the procurement of unnecessary and non-beneficial CDM amounting to USD 44,054,426 or approximately Rp 621,387,678,730 (621 billion).

“Which caused state financial losses amounting to Rp 1,567,888,662,716.74 based on the audit report calculating state financial losses from the alleged corruption case of the education digitalisation programme at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2019 to 2022, Number PE.03.03/SR/SP-920/D6/02/2025 dated 4 November 2025 from the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Prosecutor Roy Riady whilst reading the indictment at the Central Jakarta Anticorruption Court.

“And state financial losses arising from the procurement of Chrome Device Management which was unnecessary and non-beneficial under the Education Digitalisation Programme at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2019 to 2022 amounting to USD 44,054,426 or at least Rp 621,387,678,730,” he added.