Prabowo: I've Always Wanted To Have A Beard Like Mr. Surya Paloh, But I Can't

Prabowo Subianto/screenshot of NasDem TV YouTube

JAKARTA - President of 2024 Prabowo Subianto gave a speech at the III Congress of the NasDem Party at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). At the opening of his speech, Prabowo congratulated Surya Paloh who was re-elected as Chairman of the NasDem Party for the period 2024-2029.

"Thank you for the honor to me for being here and in this case I congratulate Brother Surya Paloh who may be known as Bung Bewok," said Prabowo, Tuesday, August 27.

According to Prabowo, Surya Paloh is a party leader who is synonymous with a thick mustache and beard. He also joked about having a beard and mustache like Surya Paloh.

"I've always wanted to have a beard like Mr. Surya Paloh, but I can't do it, you know. My robe is at the end (only) there are three (helai), on the left two," Prabowo said to laughter the whole room.

Prabowo then reviewed that he had been in the same party as Surya in the Golkar Party. Prabowo also admitted that his position in the Golkar Advisory Council at that time was lower than Surya. However, his condition is now different after Prabowo won the 2024 presidential election.

"We are both alumni from the same alma mater, the alma mater 'wanted'. I was a subordinate of Mr. Surya Paloh. He is the chairman of the Advisory Council, I am a member. Now Mr. Surya Paloh is my subordinate," he said.

The general chairman of the Gerindra Party assessed that this condition was part of the wheel of life. He also felt it. In the last few presidential elections, Prabowo was always defeated by his rivals. Now, Prabowo is the winner of the 2024 presidential election and leads the country until 2029.

"The wheel of life rotates, sometimes below, sometimes above. It doesn't matter. We have to know our role," said Prabowo.

"After I was beaten continuously by Mr. Jokowi if I joined, don't let me get knowledge. So he invited me to join and I finally won. Sori, yes!" he continued.

It is known that the Nasdem Party held a Congress III which was held for 3 days, from Sunday to Tuesday, August 25-27, 2024. The congress was attended by thousands of NasDem Party administrators and cadres from the central to the city district, as well as invitees.

On the third day of the Congress, Surya Paloh was re-elected as Chairman of the NasDem Party for the period 2024-2029. Thus, Surya served as Chairman of NasDem for the third period for the next five years.