Nadiem Called "Mas Menteri" by Jokowi; Judge Quips: "There's Also Mas Wapres Then?"

Jakarta — Nadiem Makarim, former Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, stated that the nickname “Mas Menteri” was given to him by Indonesia’s seventh President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) during the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet administration from 2019 to 2024.

Nadiem made this statement whilst giving testimony as a witness in a corruption trial concerning the alleged procurement of Chromebook-based laptops for three defendants. These are former Technology Consultant at the Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Arief; Director of the Ministry’s Junior Secondary School from 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority (KPA) Mulyatsyah; and Director of the Ministry’s Primary School from 2020–2021 and Budget User Authority Sri Wahyuningsih.

“Mas Menteri, eh? This is the first time I’m reading his identity — so this is apparently an alias, Mas Menteri, is it? Where does this Mas Menteri designation come from?” asked Chief Judge Purwanto S Abdullah during the hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (10 March 2026).

Nadiem explained that the nickname “Mas Menteri” was given to him by Jokowi and subsequently went viral. When asked whether he was comfortable being called “Mas Menteri,” Nadiem confirmed that he was.

Judge Purwanto then made a remark about the nickname “Mas Wapres” commonly used for Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. “There’s also Mas Wapres anyway,” the judge quipped.

This remark about “Mas Wapres” drew laughter from the previously serious courtroom. By 21:00 WIB, after hours of proceedings, all those present were still following the trial.

“The problem is I’m not Javanese, so I’m afraid I might use it incorrectly. But you’re comfortable with it, right? Who knows, if I happen to meet Mas Wapres later, I could call him Mas Wapres too,” said Judge Purwanto.

Nadiem responded: “Many people do. Even Gojek drivers call me Mas Menteri.”