At the center of political debate: Indonesia’s president’s cat is granted state protection

In Indonesia, the decision to grant state protection to the head of state’s personal cat has sparked intense discussions and debates nationwide, reports malaymail.com. President Prabowo Subianto found a cat on the street nine years ago and named it “Bobby,” turning it not just into a pet, but a special creature under state protection.

Recently, separate bodyguards were assigned to “Bobby,” and he was included in the official security protocol. This situation caused significant discontent on social media — users criticized the allocation of government budget funds to protect the president’s cat and the fact that “Bobby” was transported in a special stroller under police escort. This especially became a talking point after such an episode occurred during the “Cat Lovers Communication Day” festival in Jakarta.

Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardian Toro commented: “The president’s property is also the state’s responsibility, and its protection is the state’s task. If the question arises — who does Bobby belong to? Our answer is — the state can provide him with guaranteed protection.”

However, this attitude caused a wave of criticism and jokes on social networks. Among users, questions like “Do you get paid as a cat’s bodyguard?” and “Does such a practice really exist in 2025?” became frequent.

Political analyst Made Supriatma also considered this action absolutely unjustified for today’s Indonesia and emphasized that government funds should be spent properly.

In conclusion, the protection of a cat in Indonesia awakened public consciousness — this has become not only a question of the responsibility of state bodies, but also a manifestation of collective opinion and modern hype. The decision made regarding the president’s cat has become a central topic of political and social discussion in the country. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!