Visiting Sukabumi Ponpes, Bahlil Dubbed Golkar's 'Kancil'.

Sukabumi, Kompas.com - The Chairman of the Golkar Party and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, conducted a Ramadhan Safari visit to the Azzainiyyah Pondok Pesantren in Sukabumi, West Java, on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

At the location, Kompas.com observed that Bahlil was accompanied by several Golkar officials, including Meutya Hafid, Ace Hasan Syadzily, Sarmuji, Puteri Komarudin, Dave Laksono, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, and Dewi Asmara.

When he arrived in the afternoon, Bahlil immediately performed the Asr prayer together. Then, Bahlil paid respects at the tomb of the charismatic cleric KH Zezen ZA Bazul Asyhab.

Head of Ponpes Azzainiyyah, Aang Abdullah Zein, said that Bahlil had travelled a long way from the East to the West. Aang described Bahlil as Golkar’s ‘kancil’.

‘He came from the East to the West; he is Golkar’s kancil,’ said Aang, to thunderous applause.

Aang explained that Bahlil comes from a family with a difficult economy. Nevertheless, he said, Bahlil can now become a great minister.

‘He rose from hardship to become a minister who is quite remarkable. He is our role model. And I urge the santri to try to follow what he does. From zero to hero. From nothing to something,’ he said.

‘Alhamdulillah today we are very grateful to have been brought together with a noble person in a noble place, in a holy month, and may it continue to bring honour to us all,’ added Aang.