President Prabowo Jokes About Many Ministers Being ITB Alumni: Who's Forming This Cabinet?

President Prabowo Subianto gave a speech at the Indonesian Science, Technology and Industry Convention (KSTI)/ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati

BANDUNG - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto joked when he realized that many ministers and heads of state institutions were alumni of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

The moment occurred while the President was delivering remarks at the 2025 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) at the Sasana Budaya Ganesa (Sabuga) Building, ITB, Bandung, West Java, on Thursday, August 7.

"Ministers and ministerial-level attendees. I'll read them all, because this is important, this is our culture. I came all the way here and didn't even get a greeting. That's okay, right? I'm not limited by time. Who knows, maybe ITB, right?" the President joked, which was immediately met with laughter and applause from the audience.

As he listed the names of the ministers in attendance, the President appeared both surprised and impressed that many of them were ITB graduates.

One of them was Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, who is also an ITB researcher.

Not only that, Minister of Manpower Yassierli and Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar were also mentioned as ITB alumni.

"Prof. Yassierli, it turns out this is ITB. Wow, there are so many ITBs. Head of BPS, Amalia Adininggar, IPB? ITB? ITB again. Who's forming this cabinet?" Prabowo said with a laugh.

In addition to the ministers, several president directors of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in attendance were also alumni of the engineering university. They included Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri, PT Pindad President Director Sigit P. Santosa, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia President Director Gita Amperiawan.

Also attending the convention were several members of the Indonesian Cabinet, including Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Minister of Investment and Downstream Development Rosan P. Roeslani, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of National Development Planning Rachmat Pambudy, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.

Also in attendance were Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Head of the National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana, Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency Laksana Tri Handoko, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Angga Raka Prabowo, and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Science and Technology Stella Christie.

The 2025 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI), with the theme "Economic Growth and Equity Through Mastery of Science and Technology," is a strategic forum of national and international significance.

This activity brought together thousands of participants from various circles, including scientists, technocrats, CEOs of state-owned enterprises, strategic industry players, high-level policymakers, and the Indonesian diaspora.