Visiting a Sukabumi pesantren, Bahlil promises Golkar will push for LPDP to be maximised for santri

Chairman of the Golkar Party’s Central Executive Board, Bahlil Lahadalia, visited the Az-Zainiyyah Pondok Pesantren in Nagrok, West Java. He assured that Golkar’s faction is working to ensure LPDP scholarships are maximised for the santri as well.

‘Secnow, through the Golkar Party faction, through the Golkar Party Secretary-General, we are actively working so that this LPDP funding is not only felt in general education but must also flow to santri,’ Bahlil said at Az-Zainiyyah Ponpes, Sukabumi, West Java, on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

Bahlil argued that it is not necessarily the case that students in general schools have higher quality than santri. He cited his own background, coming from an ‘SD Inpres’ (a basic public primary school).

’ I am among those who believe that schooling alone does not guarantee a person’s quality. What guarantees a person’s quality is the person themselves,’ he said.

‘(Pesantren) surely have quality that is far better. It’s just that the touch (engagement) that must be done. The opportunities that must be provided. Do not set the requirement that it must be English TOEFL 700, 800; that’s for the wealthy,’ he added.

Furthermore, Bahlil urged the santri to continue striving for their future. He cited his own experience of coming from an economically disadvantaged family but who could succeed.

‘The future is not that the clever defeat the stupid, not that the rich defeat the poor, not that the strong defeat the weak. But the fast will defeat the slow. If I am not fast, how could I become the Chairman of Golkar? So be fast, resilient, and fight,’ he said.

Bahlil’s visit formed part of Golkar’s Ramadan safari. Attending included, among others, Golkar Deputy Speakers Ace Hasan Syadzily, Meutya Hafid, Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji, Chairman of Golkar’s Advisory Board Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and Golkar politicians Puteri Komarudin, Dave Laksono and Dewi Asmara.