Prabowo Shares Personal Experience of Facing Mockery and Offers Advice to Students
An unusual moment occurred during President Prabowo Subianto’s inspection of the Sekolah Rakyat Menengah Pertama (SRMP) 17 in Tabanan, Bali, when a student shared their experience of being a target of bullying. The incident took place on Sunday (7/6/2026) while Prabowo was visiting the school to review facilities and the new student enrolment process.
A student named Gede Bagus Abimanyu expressed his struggles, stating, “I often received mockery from my friends because I used to be a quiet child and did not particularly enjoy socialising with others.” Bagus admitted he had nearly lost hope and had missed several days of school due to the bullying, but noted that his mother’s unwavering support helped him regain his motivation to study.
Having overcome his trauma through new friendships at SRMP 17, Bagus has now been appointed as a member of the school’s Anti-Bullying organisation. “I hope that with this role, I can help prevent bullying in this school and protect my friends from experiencing what I went through,” he said. He added, “I want to convey that no matter how broken a child is, if given the right support and environment, that child can be rebuilt.” Bagus also expressed deep gratitude to the President for the development of the Sekolah Rakyat, noting how the programme has significantly helped his family.
In response to the student’s story, President Prabowo shared that he himself continues to face mockery to this day. He urged the students to study hard, remain disciplined, and show respect to their teachers and parents. “Study well, study hard, and be disciplined. Obey your teachers and always love your parents. Your parents work hard for you. Whatever their job may be, it is noble. You must uplift your parents in the future; you are their hope,” Prabowo said during his speech.
Prabowo reminded the students never to insult others, stating that the key to a good life is living in harmony with one another. “Study, study, study well. Respect your teachers, love your parents, always be in harmony with your friends, and always be kind to others. Be polite. Never, ever disparage others. Do not hate others; living well and in harmony is the key to success,” he said.
Addressing Gede Bagus directly, Prabowo offered words of encouragement to remain steadfast. He mentioned that even as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, he frequently faces mockery. “Thank you, was it Bagus? Gede Bagus, you were mocked before, and that is alright. It is okay to be mocked. Not just you, I am often mocked even now. Even a President is often mocked, and that is fine,” Prabowo remarked.
“What matters is that your heart is steadfast. Our hearts must be good. If we are mocked, we respond with politeness. The more you are insulted, the more steadfast, brave, and polite you should become,” he added. He concluded by hoping that students across Indonesia would not be discouraged by mockery, reminding them to remain spirited and never give up. “Many successful people come from very poor families. But their children did not want to give up, they did not lose hope, and they remained joyful amidst difficulties while seeking the good. Surely, goodness will come; we believe in that,” he added.