Vulgar nickname for Joko Widodo raises eyebrows in Indonesia

A nickname given to Indonesian President Joko Widodo by his supporters in East Java over the weekend has stirred controversy among political observers.

Widodo attended an event in the city of Surabaya on Saturday organised by a collective of former students who call themselves the East Java Alumni Forum. They declared their support for Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate, Islamic cleric Maruf Amin, at the event that was held ahead of general elections scheduled for April 17.

As part of the proceedings, the president was bestowed with an honorary title for a respected male figure – cak, which the group said can mean competent, religious or creative.

The problem came when local comedian Djadi Galajapo, who was hosting the event, decided to append a title of his own. He called Widodo jancuk, a local slang term that loosely translates as having sex for the enjoyment of others.

However, the word is also used in East Java as a vulgar yet cordial way of referring to a friend or loved one – analogous with how a similar profane term for female genitalia is used in some parts of Britain and Australia.

Galajapo claimed jancuk stood for masculine, capable, diligent and committed, which he said were Widodo’s positive characteristics.

Wawan Sobari, a lecturer and analyst with the department of political science at Brawijaya University in Malang, agreed that the term did not always have negative connotations.

“It is part of a subculture that exists in Surabaya or Malang, where people use a low-level Javanese language that is very different than the high-level Javanese language spoken in Solo or Yogyakarta,” Sobari said.

“Other Javanese might think of it solely as a swear word, but here we can also use it in a friendly way.”

Inevitably, the nickname has sparked controversy. Autar Abdilah, a lecturer with the faculty of language and art at the State University of Surabaya, told local news outlet Detik that it is “unethical” to call a high-level figure such as the president jancuk.

Members of the opposition also criticised the epithet, saying that Widodo was indirectly showing contempt for the office of the president by accepting such a term.

“I’m in disbelief,” Fadli Zon, vice-chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party that was founded by presidential contender Prabowo Subianto, told Detik. “If he accepted the designation, can we call him Cak Jancuk now? Or [are we] going to be charged with a hate speech?”

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Sobari, of Brawijaya University, said the controversy was unlikely to dent Widodo’s lead over Prabowo in the polls, especially in East Java where the president enjoys strong support.

“Jokowi [as Widodo is also known] has this down-to-earth brand, his personality is being sociable with the voters from [a] low socioeconomic class, it has been like that since his time as mayor of Solo, Jakarta governor, and now as the president,” said Sobari, adding that the nickname might even help his popularity among certain segments of the population.

“By accepting the title jancuk, Jokowi could boost his likeability among the demographic group that use the word as affinity symbol. [He] wanted to be seen as equal to [members of] the lower socioeconomic class.”