October 24, 2025 | 04:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has responded to a wave of memes mocking him on social media, admitting that some of the personal attacks have been unsettling.
Bahlil said he was accustomed to being ridiculed since childhood, but noted that the recent online criticism has crossed into personal territory.
“These mockeries have been happening since I was in elementary school,” he said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Friday, October 24, 2025.
He shared that he grew up in a modest family. His mother worked as a laundry woman in other people’s homes, while his father was a construction laborer.
“So being mocked is nothing new to me,” he added.
The minister emphasized that his policies are based on directives from President Prabowo Subianto and that he will not be deterred by online criticism.
“If there are memes, I’ve forgiven them. It’s fine. Criticizing policies is acceptable, but if it becomes personal or borders on racism, that’s not good,” Bahlil said.
Earlier this week, the Youth Organization of the Golkar Party (AMPG) visited the Jakarta Metro Police to consult and report several social media accounts accused of insulting Bahlil, who also serves as Golkar Party chair.
“The purpose of our visit today is to report a number of social media accounts that have been systematically and massively attacking the personal integrity and dignity of our chairman, Bahlil Lahadalia,” said AMPG Deputy Chair Sedek Bahta on Monday, October 20, 2025.
Sedek said the group had identified between five and seven accounts that repeatedly posted derogatory content about Bahlil.
“The number may increase as we continue to identify other accounts that have uploaded similar materials,” he added.
Oyuk Ivani Siagian contributed to the writing of this article.
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