Prabowo Claims Advisers Warned Him Not to Speak Without a Script

President Prabowo Subianto has revealed that his advisers have warned him not to deliver speeches without a text. Prabowo made the disclosure during the peak celebration of the National Awakening Party’s (PKB) 28th anniversary at the Jakarta Convention Centre on Thursday evening, 23 July 2026. The Head of State initially remarked that he felt honoured by the PKB cadres, as the politicians attending the party’s anniversary celebration were wearing shirts emblazoned with ‘Prabowonomics’. Prabowo then expressed his gratitude from the bottom of his heart and noted that a speech for the PKB anniversary had already been prepared. ‘Shall I read it out? Never mind you, I could even fall asleep on this podium,’ Prabowo said whilst holding his speech notes. The Gerindra Party chairman then noted that many journalists were covering the event. ‘Many of my advisers said, “Sir, you must not speak without a text. The safest thing is to just read it, sir, there is no chance of saying the wrong thing there,”’ Prabowo recounted, mimicking the advice he had received. He did not deny that he frequently speaks off-script. According to him, the media were already waiting to see what he would say. ‘No, today I am being polite, today I am polite. So what else do I need to say?’ he stated. ‘Thank you, I am worried that if I stay here too long, I will not be able to hold back my tears,’ he added. President Prabowo Subianto attended the peak event of PKB’s 28th anniversary alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Based on Tempo’s observations at the venue, Prabowo and Gibran arrived at the JCC Plenary Hall at around 7.40 p.m. Western Indonesian Time. He attended the event wearing a white safari suit, whilst Gibran wore a brown batik shirt. Upon arrival, Prabowo, accompanied by PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, walked to greet the invited guests, who included senior PKB officials, a number of clerics, and senior officials from coalition government parties.