TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has once again mentioned "foreign stooges" while speaking at an event to train teachers and school principals at the Jakarta International Expo, Central Jakarta, on Friday, August 22, 2025.
While addressing about 2,296 teachers and 155 school principals, Prabowo claimed that his cabinet had shown results despite only working for 300 days. But he warned of parties who are not particularly happy with Indonesia's resurgence, whom he often referred to as "foreign stooges."
"They're not happy that Indonesia is rising, but we will not be deterred!" he remarked.
In his speech, Prabowo also highlighted how his administration is on the right track, while quoting the proverb "the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on."
"Foreign Stooges," Prabowo's Choice of Insult
The phrase "foreign stooges" has been used time and time again by the 8th president of Indonesia to warn against those who criticize him. Here are some instances where Prabowo used the term to refer to a group of people he deemed wanting to provoke Indonesians:
Gerindra Party's Anniversary, February 15, 2025
At the Sentul International Convention Center, Bogor, Prabowo warned thousands of Gerindra Party cadres to be wary of foreign forces trying to provoke the public. He accused there were NGOs and mass media funded by foreign parties to shape narratives among the Indonesian society.
Interview with Senior Journalists, April 8, 2025
In an interview session in Hambalang, Bogor, Prabowo accused the "Dark Indonesia" rallies protesting the TNI Law revision of being funded by foreign entities.
"Take a look at whether these protests are pure or if other parties are paying for them," he said.
Commemoration of Pancasila Day, June 2, 2025
In a speech at the Pancasila Building, Central Jakarta, Prabowo once again mentioned the practice of sowing discord by foreign nations. He mentioned that NGOs often become instruments of foreign interests, under the guise of democracy and human rights.
Presidential Campaign Period in 2024
Even before officially taking office, Prabowo often linked criticism against the then President Joko Widodo, as being backed by "foreign stooges."
In Sidoarjo, February 9, 2024, he mentioned that there were parties "defaming Jokowi" because they were foreign stooges.
Based on Tempo Fact-Checking Team findings, the use of the term "foreign stooge" has been carried out by Prabowo since the 2014 general elections. At that time, he alleged foreign intervention in the electoral process.
During the 2019 general election, Prabowo yet again accused political rivals of the same "foreign stooge" narrative.
However, after joining Jokowi's cabinet as Minister of Defense, the focus shifted. No longer targeting the government, he's putting a spotlight on NGOs, students, and other parties critical of the sitting power.
After being inaugurated as president on October 20, 2024, the use of this term has only intensified against outspoken civil groups.
Tempo's data shows that in 2025, the "foreign stooges" narrative appeared nine times. Out of the total 17 instances where Prabowo used the term since 2014, eight were directed at civil society organizations, students, or outspoken groups against the government.
"Us versus Them" Narratives
Political communication expert from Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Kunto Adi Wibowo, said Prabowo's infamous insult is effective in building an 'us versus them' narrative.
"This strategy provides political advantages by delegitimizing the parties that criticize (the government), despite the fact that Prabowo also cooperates with foreign entities," he said.
For example, during his tenure as Minister of Defense, Prabowo purchased defense equipment from the United States and France with a debt value reaching Rp387.5 trillion. Even in November 2024, he signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese government to support his flagship Free Nutritious Meals program.
Deputy Director of the Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Center, Sabina Satriyani Puspita, added that the "foreign stooge" narrative can isolate citizens from real issues.
"As a strategy of disinformation and propaganda, this rhetoric also utilizes influencers on social media to influence public opinion," she said.
According to Sabina, a similar pattern was used by leaders in Southeast Asia and East Asia in the 1990s to reject human rights values that were considered "Western pproducts." As a result, human rights advocates often experienced repression.
Eka Yudha Saputra and Ika Ningtyas also contributed to the writing of this article.
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