Prabowo Greets Akmil Friend Nachrowi: He Was Disciplined, I Was a Bit Naughty

President Prabowo Subianto stated that Major General (Retired) Nachrowi Ramli, Chairman of the Betawi Sons Pencak Silat Association, was a disciplined figure during their time at the Academy of Military (Akmil).

Prabowo made this remark while greeting Nachrowi at the opening of the 16th National Congress for the 2026-2030 term of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association, held at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) on Saturday (11/4).

“He was my bunkmate at the Academy of Military. He was the disciplined one, while I was a bit naughty, but now I’m the President,” Prabowo said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

“But it’s true, I can vouch for it—he was disciplined in everything, never missing the five daily prayers,” he added.

Prabowo entered Akmil in 1970 along with several other prominent figures, such as Indonesia’s sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Prabowo graduated in 1974, while Nachrowi graduated in 1973.

Nachrowi is an expert in military intelligence. His last position was Head of the State Intelligence Agency from 2002 to 2008. After retiring, Nachrowi joined the Democrat Party.

Nachrowi once ran in the 2012 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election alongside Fauzi Bowo, but they lost to the pair of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, alias Ahok.

On this occasion, Prabowo expressed that he does not wish to continue as Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI). Nevertheless, he said he would continue to support the organisation.

“I request permission not to continue as chairman of the PB IPSI, because I am now shouldering national duties that consume my time, making it impossible for me to be effective as chairman of PB IPSI,” he said.

“I apologise for the past few moments—in fact, the last three years, I have not been active in the forefront, but I have always supported from behind. Especially now that I am president, the development of IPSI will be even more vigorous,” Prabowo added.