Prabowo on PKB Cadres Wearing Prabowonomics T-shirts: Gus Imin's Shenanigans

President Prabowo Subianto has responded to cadres of the National Awakening Party (PKB) who wore t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Prabowonomics’ at the party’s 28th anniversary celebration at the Jakarta Convention Centre (JCC) on Thursday (23/7). Prabowo noted that his own party, Gerindra, did not wear such t-shirts. “You have given me an extraordinary honour, even Gerindra doesn’t wear t-shirts like you, how about that, Dasco?” Prabowo said in his speech. He explained that Gerindra cadres did not wear the t-shirts because he would not have given permission. He claimed there was nothing new about his thinking, and that he was merely carrying out the constitutional mandate. “Gerindra doesn’t even wear them, because they know I wouldn’t allow it. If you had asked for permission, I certainly wouldn’t have given it,” he said. Prabowo said he was both touched and felt unworthy of the PKB cadres’ gesture. “What more can I say, thank you. I’m worried that if I stay here too long, I might shed a tear. Even Gerindra doesn’t wear those t-shirts,” Prabowo said, greeted by laughter from the guests. “Co (Dasco), try it on. Do you still want to be daily chairman or not?” he added jokingly. He stated that the initiative was the brainchild of PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar. “These are the shenanigans of Gus Imin. Indeed, in Indonesia there are two ‘kancil’ leaders, Gus Imin and Sufmi Dasco,” Prabowo said. PKB held the peak of its 28th anniversary celebration on Thursday evening (23/7). Prabowo and Gibran attended the event, where hundreds of PKB cadres wore white t-shirts with ‘Prabowonomics’ written on the front. PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar revealed the meaning behind the term ‘Prabowonomics’. He said that for the past 20 years, Indonesia had been tossed about by circumstances beyond its control and dictated by the market. However, since Prabowo became president, Indonesia has emphasised self-reliance and refused to be dictated to by the market. “Since Mr President took office, we no longer want to be dictated to by the market, we want to walk our own path. What is that? The constitution, what is that? The economic mindset believed in by Mr Prabowo, we call it Prabowonomics. What is that? Self-reliance, not depending on anyone,” said Muhaimin.