Prabowo to Bullying Victim: Even the President is Often Mocked
President Prabowo Subianto delivered a message of encouragement to a student from SRMP 17 Tabanan, Bali, who shared their experience of being a victim of bullying. Speaking before students and parents, Prabowo urged the children not to be disheartened by mockery and to remain focused on pursuing their ambitions.
The Head of State shared these sentiments after hearing the story of a student named Gede Bagus Abimanyu, who admitted to being frequently teased by peers during primary school. “Thank you, who was it? Bagus, right? Gede Bagus, it is alright if you were teased. It is okay to be mocked. Not just you, I am often mocked, but now… even the President is often mocked, and that is fine,” said Prabowo during his visit to the school on Sunday (7/6).
He stated that mockery should not cause someone to lose motivation or feel inferior. According to him, the most important thing is to maintain a good heart and respond to ill-treatment with politeness. “The important thing is that your heart remains firm. Our hearts should be good; if we are mocked, we respond with politeness. The more you are insulted, the firmer, braver, and more polite you should become. Respond to insults with politeness; do not lose heart,” he said.
On this occasion, Prabowo also advised students to study diligently, respect their teachers, and love their parents, who work hard for their children’s future. “Students, study well, study hard. Study with discipline, obey your teachers, and always love your parents. Your parents work hard for you, and whatever their job may be, it is very noble,” he added.
Prabeway noted that education is a primary pathway for children to transform their family’s future. Therefore, he requested that students do not give up easily despite facing various difficulties. “You must uplift your parents in the future. You are your parents’ hope. Study, study, study well. Respect teachers, love parents, always live in harmony with friends, always be good to others, and be polite. Never badmouth others, and do not hate others,” he urged.
Prabowo remarked that living in harmony and maintaining good relationships with others is a key to success. He also reminded students not to despair even if they come from humble backgrounds. “Thank you, you will succeed in the future. Many successful people come from very poor families. There are many. But their children did not want to give up, they did not despair, and they remained joyful amidst difficulties while seeking the good; goodness will surely come. We believe that,” he said.
Previously, Gede Bagus Abimanyu shared his experience as the son of a mother who works as a laundry worker. He admitted to experiencing bullying during primary school because he tended to be quiet and did not socialise much with his peers. As a result of those experiences, he even missed several days of school. However, the support from his mother motivated him to return to his studies with renewed spirit. Now, as a student at SRMP 17 Tabanan, Gede admitted he has begun building his self-confidence, introducing himself to new environments, and adapting to a supportive group of friends.