Prabowo Claims to Hear "Voice from Above" When Appointing Suyudi as Kapolri

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recounted the selection process of General Suyudi Ario Seto as the Chief of Police (Kapolri).

Prabowo admitted that he did not know Suyudi personally, stating they had only met once while Suyudi was still serving as a police chief.

"General Suyudi, I don't know him. I don't know him. I met him only once in all these years, right? I saw him first as a police chief, he was a police chief, and I was already a general," Prabowo said during the opening of the 114th Muhammadiyah Tanwir and Milad, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Saturday (14/11/2026).

Prabowo mentioned that he had received several names suggested for the Kapolri position besides Suyudi. However, he felt that none of those names were suitable.

"When I was about to make a change, they suggested this name, they suggested that name, but it didn't click," he stated.

Ultimately, Prabowo inquired about Suyudi, who had formerly been the head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

"'Who is he? He is the head of BNN, who is he?', 'This is Suyudi, Sir', 'Where is he from?' 'Pandeglang, Banten'. That's it," Prabowo recounted.

After receiving this explanation, Prabowo decided that General Suyudi would take the position of Kapolri.

The President described this decision as one that came through what he referred to as a voice from above.

"After that, 'you are the Kapolri!' So that was the voice from above. So thank God the country is safeguarded," he said.

Prabowo emphasized the importance of providing positive evaluations when someone deserves it.

"I'm not one to just compliment people, I'm someone who finds it very difficult to give praise. Compliments come at a high price for me, I don't easily give praise, but I must acknowledge," he added.