Prabowo Jokes Cak Imin, Dasco, Bahlil Are 'Kancil' Leaders: Trouble When They Gather

President Prabowo Subianto joked that there are three ‘kancil’ (trickster) leaders in Indonesia. He made the remarks during the 28th anniversary celebration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC) on Thursday (23/7).

Prabowo initially said he was touched that PKB cadres wore t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Prabowonomics’. He noted that even his own party does not wear such shirts. ‘What more can I say, thank you. I’m worried I might shed tears if I stay here too long. Even Gerindra doesn’t wear those shirts,’ Prabowo said, drawing laughter from the guests in attendance. ‘Co, try it, Co. Do you still want to be the daily chairman or not?’ he added jokingly.

He said the t-shirt idea was the brainchild of PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, known as Cak Imin. ‘This is Gus Imin’s trick. Indeed, in Indonesia there are two kancil leaders, Gus Imin and Sufmi Dasco,’ Prabowo said.

Prabowo continued joking about Dasco, who is now a professor but was previously a provocateur. ‘Mr Dasco is now a professor, but he used to be a provocateur. Co, if I hadn’t pulled you along, you might not know where you’d be now,’ he said, prompting laughter from the guests.

Prabowo then said the third kancil leader is Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia. ‘The third kancil is probably the Chairman of Golkar. When those three gather, we’re in trouble,’ he said.