Prabowo Quips About Bahlil's Rousing Applause: Is It Because Fuel Prices Didn't Rise?

President Prabowo Subianto cracked a joke during his speech at the closing of the 2026 National Conference of Alim Ulama and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Grand Conference in Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, on Tuesday (23/6/2026). While reading out the list of attendees, Prabowo noted the loud applause for Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. “Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, brother Bahlil Lahadalia. Why is the applause so loud?” Prabowo asked. “Is it because fuel prices didn’t go up? The one who made sure they didn’t go up is the president!” he added. The government has indeed refrained from raising subsidised fuel prices for Pertalite and Biosolar, though non-subsidised Pertamax has increased to Rp 16,250 per litre and Pertamax Green to Rp 17,000 per litre. Prabowo also directed banter at Social Affairs Minister and PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) about socks, and remarked on the large number of NU members in the Merah Putih cabinet, including Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar and Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Nusron Wahid. “This cabinet has many NU members. NU is indeed great, it is everywhere,” he said. He also joked with the TNI Commander and National Police Chief about their kopiah headwear, suggesting regulations should be changed to allow official uniforms to include the kopiah when visiting NU or Muhammadiyah events.