PVRI: Prabowo's Expert Remarks Signal Anti-Science Stance
President Prabowo Subianto launched insults at experts whom he accused of lacking honesty.
The Public Virtue Research Institute (PVRI) has expressed concern over President Prabowo Subianto's characterization of experts who oppose government policies as "idiotic." PVRI Executive Director Muhammad Naziful Haq deemed this statement an attack on scientists striving to understand and address national issues. This is not the first time the President has publicly expressed such an opinion, marking an anti-knowledge attitude, according to Naziful.
He argued that a leader should possess basic democratic competence, including a willingness to listen and embrace a scientific approach when formulating policy. Naziful emphasized that democracy necessitates critical voices to scrutinize authority, but the insults cast at experts suggest a lack of humility in accepting criticism.
The President's remarks were made during the 28th anniversary of the National Mandate Party in Jakarta on September 18, 2026. Prabowo contended that some experts consider themselves so intelligent that they end up being foolish. He defended his tolerance for criticism directed at himself but asserted that he would not stand for slanderous criticism. Intellectuals, Prabowo stressed, must be honest, a concept he termed "intellectual honesty."
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
