Bahlil Lahadalia, the Chairman of the Golkar Party and concurrently the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, has responded with a relaxed demeanor to the catchy viral song titled ‘Kanda My Little Bolu Ketan’. This particular track gained significant traction across social media platforms, notably featuring the lyrics “MBG, Mas Bahlil Ganteng” (Mas Bahlil is Handsome).
Intriguingly, the prominent minister expressed his genuine curiosity about the individual behind the song’s creation and articulated a desire for a direct meeting. “I would appreciate it if I could extend an invitation to the person, should they be willing. I’d love to invite them for a chat and a meal, as I’m genuinely intrigued,” Bahlil stated, as quoted from the Instagram account of celebrity Raffi Ahmad on Saturday, May 30.
In a joint Instagram post with Raffi Ahmad, who serves as the President’s Special Envoy for Youth and Arts Development, Bahlil Lahadalia was seen engaging in a casual conversation, openly discussing the unexpected musical sensation. He reiterated his fascination, commenting, “It’s truly organic. I’m personally quite curious about who created this. So, if you (Raffi) could find them, I would truly love to meet them, Fi. However, I deeply respect the creativity of people, especially the youth today.”
Bahlil further acknowledged that facing various forms of feedback and criticism, even through a song, is an inherent risk for any public official. Nevertheless, he underscored the importance of responsible creativity on social media, cautioning against content that incorporates elements of SARA (Suku, Agama, Ras, dan Antargolongan – ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations).
“I have only one piece of advice: in a democratic era, social media is incredibly important. However, its use should also be broadened with careful consideration. For instance, it must not delve into SARA issues, as this could trigger division and undermine the solidarity among the nation’s children. Creativity should always be valued, provided it operates within a good and proper framework,” he emphasized, advocating for constructive expression.
According to a search conducted by Katadata.co.id, the immensely popular song was uploaded under the label sourced from the Instagram account @VOKALIZ_NETIZEN. Its memorable lyrics cleverly weave together comments that had already gone viral on social media, ranging from the affectionate “MBG, Mas Bahlil ganteng” to the playful riddle, “What’s the sweetest fruit? Buahlil.”
The infectious nature of the track has led countless internet users to incorporate it as background music for their content, while many others have found the melody incredibly difficult to dislodge from their minds – a true “earworm.” Content creator Sania Leonardo, for example, humorously acknowledged its pervasive catchiness on her personal Instagram account @sanialeonardo, joking, “Don’t memorize it, don’t memorize it, don’t memorize it, don’t memorize it!”
Summary
Bahlil Lahadalia, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Golkar Party Chairman, reacted positively to the viral song “Kanda My Little Bolu Ketan,” which includes the lyrics “MBG, Mas Bahlil Ganteng.” He expressed a strong desire to meet the song’s creator, inviting them for a chat and a meal due to his genuine curiosity. Bahlil acknowledged that public officials must face various forms of feedback, including through creative works like songs.
However, he stressed the importance of responsible social media use, cautioning against content that could involve SARA (ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations) to prevent division. The immensely popular song, uploaded by @VOKALIZ_NETIZEN, has become an “earworm” for many internet users. Its catchy lyrics, which cleverly incorporate other viral comments about Bahlil, have led to its widespread use as background music across social media platforms.
