Fadli Zon Sees Prabowo Speech Style as Part of His Character

Culture Minister Fadli Zon said President Prabowo Subianto’s speech style is part of the distinct character of each president. Speaking at the Culture Ministry building in Jakarta on Wednesday, Fadli compared the styles of several Indonesian presidents, from Soekarno, who was fiery, to Soeharto, who was calm, B.J. Habibie, who was close to technology, Abdurrahman Wahid, who joked often, and Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was formal. He said Prabowo’s communication pattern has long tended to remain consistent because he presents ideas in conceptual terms. Fadli also said Prabowo’s metaphors and quips are used to build closeness with the public while making government policy easier to explain. He added that criticism of the government is still necessary in a democracy, as long as it is based on arguments and focused on substance.