Prabowo Lets Slip Etiquette Gaffe During Condolence Visit to SBY's Home
Jakarta. Losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is no stranger to political gaffes, but on Monday, during a condolence visit to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's home in Bogor, West Java, he let slip an etiquette blunder as well.
Having flown back to Jakarta from Dubai, Prabowo went to Yudhoyono's home to pay respect to his late wife, former first lady Ani Yudhoyono who passed away on Saturday, but simply could not miss an opportunity to speak up of his fading presidential ambitions.
Ani Yudhoyono died in Singapore after a long battle with cancer and was buried at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Sunday.
Prabowo had left Indonesia to go to Dubai for unexplained reasons early last week and did not attend the funeral ceremony.
It was an awkward moment when Prabowo, the only challenger to incumbent president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in this year's presidential election, made his faux pas during a live press conference aired by CNN Indonesia and Kompas TV.
"I was told Ibu Ani was a supporter of mine. She voted for me in [the] 2014 and 2019 [presidential elections]. So, I can feel what Pak SBY is feeling today," Prabowo said.
Yudhoyono, Indonesia's sixth president, was standing behind Prabowo when he made the untimely statement.
The former president did not interrupt Prabowo during the statement.
After Prabowo left, Yudhoyono made his own statement.
"Please try to understand how we are feeling [right now]. We are in mourning. Ibu Ani had just passed away, don't get her involved in politics," Yudhoyono said.
The late Ani Yudhoyono was a co-founder of the Democratic Party with her husband, who is now the chairman. The party backed Prabowo's presidential ticket in this year’s election.
Backlash
Prabowo's politically-charged statement during his condolence visit, or takziah, drew criticism almost immediately.
"I watched him make that statement on Kompas TV. It's an inappropriate way to practice takziah. We should refrain from talking about politics to respect the feelings of those who are in mourning," Mahmuddin Muslim from Baitul Muslimin Indonesia (Bamusi), a conservative wing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), told the Jakarta Globe on Monday.
He said during a takziah people should offer comfort and strength to the family left behind.
"Prabowo should learn more about the protocols and courtesies of takziah," Mahmuddin said.
Tags: Keywords:
as a preferred
Related Articles
Prabowo Calls Meeting on Forest Fires as Haze Reaches Jakarta, Singapore
Prabowo summons senior officials to discuss forest fires as smoke reaches Jakarta and Malaysia pushes for regional action.
Books on Prabowo's Ideas Distributed Free at Jakarta Car-Free Day
Prabowo, who took office on Oct. 20, 2024, will mark the second anniversary of his presidency on Tuesday.
Two Years Into Prabowo Presidency, Infrastructure Takes Back Seat
Prabowo’s social spending push raises concerns over infrastructure delays and uneven growth beyond Java.
Prabowo, Egypt’s Sisi Talk Trade Pact for $5 Billion Commerce
Egypt's Sisi tells Prabowo that he wants to see annual trade to reach $5 billion by 2030 as Jakarta seeks tariff deals.
Egypt's Sisi Arrives in Indonesia for Talks With Prabowo
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi arrives in Indonesia for talks with Prabowo Subianto to strengthen strategic ties.
Prabowo to Launch Indonesia’s First Electric Vehicle Battery Export
Indonesia is set to export its first electric vehicle batteries as Prabowo launches a $10.2 billion industrial program.
Bahlil Signals More Ministries May Join New Downstream Coordination
Bahlil signals one or two more ministries could join the new downstream coordination, with the Industry Ministry among those considered.
Prabowo to Inaugurate Six New Military Commands on TNI Anniversary
Prabowo will inaugurate six new military commands and dozens of other units as Indonesia’s TNI marks its 81st anniversary.
Big Spending, Limited Revenue: Economists Question Prabowo’s Economic Strategy
Prabowo’s flagship programs face scrutiny as rising spending, weak job creation and deindustrialization threaten Indonesia’s growth.
Breaking: Prabowo Reportedly Set to Reshuffle Energy, Foreign Affairs Ministerial Posts
Prabowo reshuffles energy and foreign affairs portfolios as Bahlil and Sugiono are set for new roles in his seventh cabinet reshuffle.The Latest
'We've Done Everything We Can': OJK Chief as Indonesian Stocks Fall Below 5,000
The OJK launched a broad market reform program in March aimed at bringing Indonesia's capital markets closer to international standards.
Christiane Amanpour to Leave CNN After 43 Years
Her announcement came weeks after media corporation Paramount Skydance formally took over Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.
Indonesia Records Rp 1.54 Quadrillion in Investment Through September
Cumulative investment since President Prabowo Subianto took office on Oct. 20, 2024, had reached approximately Rp 3.92 quadrillion.
UN Boss Wants to Fix Security Council as Indonesia Seeks Seat
Outgoing UN chief Guterres says the current permanent member setup at the Security Council fails to reflect today's realities.
Saudi Flagship Investment Conference Pushed to 2027 after Houthi Attacks
The annual Future Investment Initiative (FII), often dubbed "Davos in the Desert", was originally scheduled to take place from October 26-29Most Popular
