Prabowo's 'Londo Ireng' Label Misdirected, Says Analyst

9 hours ago 2

President Prabowo Subianto attended the peak of the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) with the theme "Prabowonomics" at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, on July 23, 2026. In his speech, the President used the historical term "londo ireng" (Black Dutch)-which originally referred to indigenous or African mercenaries who defended colonialists-to criticize modern forces. He criticized journalists, observers, and NGOs who were deemed to be more concerned with promoting foreign interests than defending their own country. Tempo/Imam Sukamto

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political analyst Dedi Kurnia Syah argued that President Prabowo Subianto’s use of the term londo ireng to describe government critics is misplaced. According to Syah, the pejorative should instead be directed at corrupt current or former officials.

"The 'londo ireng' label, as an analogy for a traitor, should be applied to figures such as Dadan Hindayana, Nadiem Makarim, and anyone proven to be corrupt," he said when contacted on Monday, July 27, 2026.

Syah considers the head of state’s deployment of the term against the public concerning. He suspects this misdirected rhetoric stems from a decline in the quality of advisors surrounding the president.

"This statement also indicates that no one [in his inner circle] is able to refine the tone of the president's speeches," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto referred to government critics as londo ireng during his address at the peak of the National Awakening Party’s (PKB) 28th anniversary event on Thursday, July 23, 2026. In his speech, Prabowo claimed there are Indonesians who willingly serve foreign interests above their own nation. "That is what we used to call 'londo ireng'. Those who fought alongside the Dutch against us. These 'londo ireng' still exist today," Prabowo said at the Jakarta Convention Center on Thursday evening.

The Gerindra Party general chair later claimed that this group operates today under various guises. "Journalists, analysts, civil society organizations," Prabowo listed.

Press Demands Apology

Secretary-General of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Bayu Wardhana demanded that President Prabowo Subianto issue an apology for comparing journalists to londo ireng. According to Bayu, the metaphor discredits journalism as a critical pillar of public oversight.

The term londo ireng historically refers to native Indonesians viewed as traitors or defectors who prioritized foreign interests over their own nation. "The President should apologize for this and improve his speeches," Bayu said via WhatsApp on Friday, July 24, 2026.

Bayu emphasized that applying the label to members of the press is a completely groundless accusation. This is because journalists work to report objective facts rather than serve foreign interests. He cited news coverage on food poisoning cases linked to the free nutritious meal program—one of Prabowo's flagship initiatives—as an example of public interest reporting.

He urged the head of state to view such coverage as constructive feedback rather than a personal assault. "The President should not attack the messengers, but focus on fixing the underlying issues, such as improving governance of the MBG program," he said.

Dian Rahma Fika contributed to this report.

Read: Prabowo's 'Londo Ireng' Remarks Show He Is Anti-Criticism, Says PBHI

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