President Prabowo Jokes About Reshuffle, Urges Delay on New Buildings

President Prabowo Subianto attended a shrimp harvest event in Kebumen, Central Java, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, making a series of notable statements. During the event, he engaged in lighthearted banter, joking about potentially reshuffling Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan after the minister mistakenly named the village they were visiting.

Initially, Prabowo intended to announce the name of the village where the harvest was taking place. Zulkifli Hasan whispered the name "Karangduwur" to the President. However, the crowd corrected them, shouting that the correct name was "Tegalretno." Prabowo then invited a local resident to the podium to clarify the village's name, stating, "Village Tegalretno, Petahanan District." Following this, the President humorously questioned whether the Food Coordinating Minister needed to be reshuffled for providing incorrect information, saying, "Oh dear, the Coordinating Minister was wrong. Wrong name. Does he need to be reshuffled?"

In another significant statement, Prabowo called for a postponement of new building construction for government agencies. He argued that new offices not facing urgent needs should not be rushed. The President stressed that the nation should prioritize increasing the wealth of its citizens. He stated that government work must be productive and that while offices are necessary, they should not be built without a corresponding increase in productivity. The former Defense Minister emphasized that the public needs income and jobs more than grand office buildings.

Prabowo also claimed that his administration has achieved several successes since taking office in October 2024, including reaching self-sufficiency in several food commodities. He asserted that within 19 months, many targets have been realized, specifically mentioning self-sufficiency in rice and corn. He acknowledged, however, that self-sufficiency has not yet been achieved for all commodities, particularly animal protein sources like eggs, chicken, and meat. He set a target for self-sufficiency in meat within the next four to five years.