Prabowo Subianto's Ethics

Slowly but surely, Prabowo Subianto’s true character is revealing itself. He has attempted to present a charming and humorous persona who smiles and dances around—in slang known as a “gemoy”—for the 2024 general elections, which contrasts his image throughout the 2014 and 2019 elections. But his current effort is falling apart because of his latest statement.

Prabowo made the statement at a Gerindra Party coordination meeting on December 15, 2023. He said, “Ndasmu etik” (to the effect of “ethical issue my foot”) as his take to Anies Baswedan’s question during the first presidential debate on December 12, 2023.

Anies in the debate asked Prabowo what he felt about the violation of ethics when he learned of the Constitutional Court’s decision to allow Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run alongside him in the 2024 presidential election despite Gibran not having reached the cut-off age.

Prabowo did not answer the question during the debate. He sounded emotional as he told his rival to put a stop to the dispute about violation of ethics, arguing that they were both adults and he was not chasing after a position in this election. This was naturally off topic.

Prabowo’s response only became clear at his party’s internal meeting three days after the debate, where he uttered his controversial statement. Prabowo and Gerindra Party officials may make light of the statement saying it was no more than a joke in the style of Banyumas, Central Java, where prominent economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo—Prabowo’s father—originally came from. “Ndas,” which literally means “head” in the Javanese language, is indeed open to interpretation, and may be understood as a joke, quip of rejection, mockery, or a reprimand.

If Prabowo had only said “ndasmu,” the above context would have made sense. Some people would have seen it as a joke, although it would still have been inappropriate coming from a public official. The problem is, it was followed by the word “ethics.”

If you look at the etymology, “ndasmu” emphasizes the word that follows. The Jakarta slang equivalent would be “pala lu” (literally “your head”, but more appropriately “my foot”). Let’s say Badu receives news he would be receiving a bicycle at the Independence Day competition. When his friend asks about the gift, he says, “A bike, my foot. I was only given a certificate.” Whether this is a joke or a sign of anger, and whether Badu is smiling or upset as he makes the statement, does not matter. The message is clear: there is no bike.

The denial of violation of ethics violation uttered by a public official who has long dreamed of becoming president is a red flag. Ethics is indeed not part of the law, which draws a clear line between right and wrong. Prabowo has even said that he has discussed the Constitutional Court’s decision with experts in the law and concluded that Gibran’s candidacy makes no violation.

But, as stated by the Constitutional Court Ethics Council, the Constitutional Court’s decision on the cut-off age for presidential and vice-presidential candidates was indeed ethically flawed. A moral value was violated when Gibran—aged 36 and the eldest son of President Joko Widodo as well as the nephew of former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman—was allowed to run for vice president before the age of 40.

Because they moved ahead nevertheless in the presidential election through an ethical violation, does not mean that Prabowo and Gibran will not be required to uphold a moral standard if they are elected. They should not believe that now anything goes so long as it does not violate regulations, which, after all, they can always tweak whenever they wish as recent developments suggest..

Unfortunately for Prabowo and Gibran, the word “ndasmu” may end up being their answer to all criticism against them. To sound more creative, all they need to do is pick another body part. “Your eyes” or “your mouth” or “your belly button,” and so forth are the many options. What’s clear from this slip of tongue incident, is that ethics has not been in the head of either Prabowo nor Gibran.