Prabowo Brings Up Adolf Hitler in Economic Speech — What's Going On?

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia – President Prabowo Subianto referenced Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during his speech at the Indonesia Economic Outlook event at Wisma Danantara. Prabowo began by saying that corruption and budget leakages continue to plague Indonesia. He even said that misappropriation and manipulation occur at every level.

“We don’t need to be ashamed of our shortcomings. There is still far too much corruption. We must eradicate corruption from Indonesian soil. All leakages, all misappropriation, all manipulation — at every level,” he said.

Prabowo then urged the business leaders present at the event to comply with all existing regulations. “I gathered business people, most of whom are my own friends, and I told them: enough, you’re already big, already rich — obey the regulations,” he said.

Prabowo then pointed out that many smart people in Indonesia actually find ways to circumvent existing regulations. He called for such a culture to be eliminated — including, he said, within his own government bureaucracy.

“In Indonesia, smart people are smart at finding opportunities to get around regulations. Right? We learn this from school. Right? Let’s eliminate that culture,” he explained. “But the problem is the government bureaucracy also has to be proper. Sometimes the bureaucracy isn’t proper either, right?” he added.

Prabowo then quoted World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who reportedly said he was more afraid of his bureaucrats than of the enemy leader, Hitler.

“‘I’m more afraid of my bureaucrats than I’m afraid of Adolf Hitler.’ He said that, but we don’t know if he actually said it or not. But the spirit is something like that,” he said.

Prabowo then joked by modifying the quote. “I feel the same way. Maybe let me change it so I’m the one saying it: ‘I’m more afraid of my bureaucrats than I’m afraid of’ — whoever — ‘a ghost or something,’” Prabowo quipped.

“So, we must clean up. We must have the new Indonesia. The new Indonesia must have no corruption,” he said.