Prabowo defends use of ‘bastard’ slur as president tells doubters to ‘find another country’

Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has defended using the word bajingan – commonly translated as "bastard", "scoundrel" or "rogue" – during a public speech, while also telling Indonesians pessimistic about the country's future that they were free to "find another country".

The remarks, delivered on Sunday during Indonesia's National Cooperatives Day celebrations in Jakarta, came as the president called for national unity and urged the public to abandon what he described as a culture of hatred, insults and political division.

But the speech was punctuated by comments that quickly drew attention.

"Can a president say bajingan?" Mr Prabowo asked the audience before turning to Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti.

"I'm not asking you. I'm asking the education minister."

After the minister laughed, Mr Prabowo argued that the expression was not offensive.

"It's not a rude word. Bajingan is bajingan. I'm Betawi, so forgive me if I get excited and Betawi expressions come out," he said.

The Indonesian word has no exact English equivalent, but is widely understood as a derogatory term for someone considered dishonest or contemptible.

'Find another country'

Later in the same address, Mr Prabowo struck another confrontational note as he defended his government's economic agenda.

Declaring that "Indonesia will rise", he dismissed critics who questioned the country's direction.

"Those who doubt, just stay at home. Those who think Indonesia is gloomy, please find another country. Nobody is stopping you," he said.

The president argued that Indonesia's economic future would be driven by cooperation between state-owned enterprises, private companies, small businesses and thousands of planned village cooperatives.

He insisted his government was "not anti-big business", saying all sectors had a role within what he described as an "Indonesia Incorporated" model.

Mixed message

The comments contrasted with another part of Mr Prabowo's speech, in which he urged Indonesians to forgive one another and reject political hostility.

"Let's not follow a culture of insults, hatred and suspicion," he said.

Political leaders in many countries occasionally use colloquial language to project authenticity, but such remarks often attract scrutiny because they can shape perceptions of a country's political climate.

Mr Prabowo's latest comments also come as Indonesia faces heightened attention from international investors. The rupiah has weakened against the US dollar in recent months, while markets continue to monitor the government's fiscal policies, spending plans and broader investment environment.

Although there is no evidence that Sunday's remarks alone affected financial markets, economists generally note that investors tend to value predictable communication from political leaders, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty.

Mr Prabowo, who took office in October 2024, has increasingly combined nationalist rhetoric with promises of rapid economic growth and large-scale state-led programmes, including his flagship free nutritious meals initiative. His supporters argue his direct speaking style resonates with ordinary Indonesians, while critics say such language risks further polarising political debate.