Moment When Rocky Gerung Pats Prabowo's Back at the Palace
Academic Rocky Gerung visited the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, 27 April 2026. He attended the inauguration of six officials joining President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet.
One of the officials inaugurated was Jumhur Hidayat. Jumhur was appointed as Minister of Environment. He is a colleague of Rocky.
“So, because I know him, I accompanied him. That’s the reason I’m here,” Rocky said after the inauguration ceremony.
On that occasion, Rocky also shook hands and chatted with President Prabowo Subianto. The moment occurred after the inauguration procession ended. Prabowo appeared to shake hands with the new officials before approaching the guests, including Rocky who was standing with Great Institute Board Chairman Syahganda Nainggolan.
Prabowo smiled while shaking hands with Rocky and Syahganda. They laughed several times during the brief conversation. Rocky was also seen patting the President’s arm and back while smiling.
In a press conference after the inauguration, Rocky recounted the moment with Prabowo to journalists. According to Rocky, Prabowo referred to him as a dissident. “I shook hands with Mr Prabowo earlier, and Mr Prabowo is an old discussion partner of mine, and he said, ‘Wow, Mr Rocky, thank you for coming, and it turns out Mr Rocky is still a dissident (someone not aligned with the government),’” Rocky said.
Rocky conveyed that Prabowo’s expression at the time showed he was joking. “Am I a dissident?” Rocky said.
At today’s event, Rocky also spoke with Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. He mentioned discussing communication theory with Teddy.
“I told Mr Teddy that he is capable of distinguishing when spoken body language is displayed, and when psychological body language is kept for momentum-related matters,” said the man who once taught philosophy at the University of Indonesia.
Through this inauguration, Prabowo appointed the General Chairman of the All-Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPSI), Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, as Minister of Environment and Head of the Environment Control Agency. Jumhur replaces the previous official, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.
Meanwhile, Hanif received a new position as Deputy Minister Coordinator for Food Affairs. Hanif’s inauguration for the new position was carried out at the same opportunity at the Presidential Palace on Monday.
In addition, Prabowo also inaugurated several officials outside ministerial positions. Among others, Muhammad Qodari was appointed as Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) of the Republic of Indonesia. He replaces Angga Raka Prabowo. Qodari also left his old position as head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP).
Qodari’s old position was filled by retired Indonesian National Army soldier Dudung Abdurachman. Dudung also serves as Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for National Defence matters since the beginning of Prabowo’s administration.
Prabowo also inaugurated Hasan Nasbi as Special Advisor to the President for Communication Affairs. Thus, Hasan officially returns to the Red and White Cabinet circle after previously leaving the Presidential Communication Office in April 2025.
Furthermore, Prabowo appointed former Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, as Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency. Karding was previously dismissed from his position as Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers in 2025.