JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto’s latest tirade against experts critical of his administration has drawn backlash from researchers and civil society figures, who warned that his repeated rebuke of criticism risks narrowing research-based policymaking and freedom of speech in the country.
Speaking at the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Jakarta on Friday, Prabowo mocked experts whom he accused of using their criticism to take down his policies and programmes, including his flagship free nutritious meal programme.
“Whatever. These experts who consider themselves experts, they are so smart that they become idiots,” Prabowo said during the livestreamed event, drawing cheers from the audience.
While stopping short of naming any particular experts, the President alleged that some of their criticisms have “turned into slander” against him.
The remarks came as Prabowo defended his ambition to eradicate hunger and childhood stunting through the multi-trillion-rupiah free meals programme for school students nationwide, which has faced mounting scrutiny over its cost and recurring food poisoning incidents since its rollout in January 2025.
Nearly 53,000 students have suffered food poisoning linked to the programme, according to lawmaker Charles Honoris of House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health last week, as the figures continue to increase even after several attempts at reform to its implementation by the government.
Muhammad Naziful Haq or Nazif, executive director of civil group Public Virtue Research Institute (PVRI), said Prabowo’s latest remarks reflect what he deems an increasingly “anti-intellectualism”.
“Public prosperity needs to be examined through data, facts and scientific studies. That is where science and experts function,” Nazif said in a statement on Saturday.
Nazif noted that Friday’s remarks were not an isolated episode.
In March, Prabowo called unnamed observers “unpatriotic”, while in July, he accused some journalists and analysts critical of his policies of serving foreign interests, calling them londo ireng (black Dutchmen).
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid described Prabowo’s latest remarks as part of a broader deterioration in democratic accountability under his administration.
“It represents the nadir of Prabowo’s disregard for criticism,” Usman said on Sunday.
“This goes to show that Indonesia is experiencing not only autocratisation but also kakistocracy”, he added, referring to a term of government made up of the least qualified figures.
Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) researcher Isnawati Hidayah, whose organisation has frequently criticised the free meals programme, warned that the President’s rhetoric could reverberate throughout the government bureaucracy.
“It sends a signal that opinions from people with expertise, merit and scientific studies are not to be appreciated or given space in policymaking,” Isnawati said on Sunday.
“A policy that negates scientific studies or expert opinions will not run optimally and may even fail. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
