Prabowo Jests About Foreign Nationals at Corn Harvest: 'They'll Soon Know Our Secrets'

President Prabowo Subianto led the Simultaneous Corn Harvest and Groundbreaking Ceremony for 10 Polri Food Security Warehouses in Tuban, East Java. During the event, Prabowo made a jest about the presence of foreign nationals while discussing corn cob charcoal briquettes.

“Wow, there are many foreign nationals here too; they’ll soon know our secrets. But they don’t speak Indonesian yet,” Prabowo said, drawing laughter from the participants at the corn harvest in Tuban, East Java, on Saturday (16/5/2026).

Amidst the laughter, Prabowo continued his jest, saying that the foreign nationals would ask artificial intelligence (AI) programs about corn cob charcoal briquettes. He then added that his remarks should not be translated for the foreign nationals.

“It’s okay, don’t translate it so they can fumble around and try to understand. They’ll take notes, ‘charcoal briquettes, charcoal, what is charcoal?’ Then they’ll open ChatGPT,” Prabowo joked.

While joking, Prabowo admitted that inviting the foreign nationals to the harvest event might have been a mistake. However, he stated that Indonesia’s food security innovations could be replicated by other countries for humanitarian reasons.

“I may have made a mistake by inviting them; they’ll soon know our discoveries. But it’s okay, for the sake of humanity, you can copy from Indonesia,” he added.

Before Prabowo spoke, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo presented various Polri innovations in supporting the national food security program. Sigit said that these innovations included the development of agricultural technology and the strengthening of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).

“Polri is also collaborating with local MSMEs to encourage the utilization of agricultural by-products through the development of corn cob charcoal briquettes, named Miracle Carbon, as an alternative energy source for household needs, supporting MSMEs, chicken coop heaters, and a substitute for firewood,” he said.

In addition, Polri also introduced innovative coal-based precision fertilizers. General Sigit said that this innovation can increase soil pH.

“Polri is introducing innovative coal-based precision fertilizers that are beneficial for increasing pH by one to two levels, while also restoring nutrients, thus enriching the soil and promoting healthy plants,” he explained.