October 29, 2025 | 05:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto admitted that he sometimes feels irritated when watching or listening to podcasts on his smartphone at night.
He made the remark during his speech at a drug evidence destruction event at Bhayangkara Field, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Prabowo began his speech by emphasizing that unity is the key to national prosperity, noting that the third principle of Pancasila underscores unity. He also stressed the importance of accepting criticism, saying that leaders who refuse to be corrected are more likely to repeat their mistakes.
“Sometimes at night, I watch podcasts. And yes, some of them can be irritating. I find myself thinking, ‘What is this?’ But I take note anyway,” Prabowo said.
The President did not specify which podcasts he was referring to. He then advised young people aspiring to become leaders not to fear criticism or slander, recalling his own experience as a student.
“When I was slandered, my teacher told me not to lose heart. If people slander you, it means you’re being noticed, maybe even feared. Take it as a sign to stay alert,” he said.
Prabowo added that he often reflects on the criticism he hears.
“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Is it true? Am I authoritarian?’ It doesn’t feel like it. So, this kind of criticism is actually good,” he said.
This is not the first time Prabowo has spoken about podcasts. In earlier remarks, he mentioned listening to programs that discuss his relationship with former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
At the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Congress in Solo, Central Java, on July 20, 2025, Prabowo said he often checks social media and podcasts that comment on him.
“I sometimes scroll through social media at night and watch podcasts to see what people are saying about me. Funny thing is, sometimes they seem to know more about Prabowo than I do,” he joked.
He recalled one podcast that speculated about a rift between him and former president Jokowi.
“They said, ‘Prabowo has split from Jokowi.’ I just laughed. Everything gets analyzed,” he said, adding that he views such discussions as part of a healthy democracy.
Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
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