‘Epok-epok’ nation: When Indonesian politics turns into a livestream

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Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi (in brown pants) monitoring floods in the city after heavy rain.

PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM ERICAHYADI_/INSTAGRAM

Summary

• A microphone caught epok-epok keliling during a Surabaya mayors livestream, sparking debate about political staging and authenticity.
• Junior team member Ms. Dzikrillah resigned, but the mayor rejected it. The incident highlights the performance aspect of Indonesian politics.
• Social media prioritises authenticity, and leaders like Governor Dedi Mulyadi face scrutiny, showing a shift towards visibility over persuasion.

AI generated

JAKARTA – The camera was meant to show leadership in motion – Surabaya mayor Eri Cahyadi on the ground, meeting residents, tackling floods after heavy rains. But one forgotten microphone caught something else: an unidentified voice saying “epok-epok keliling”, and a political storm was born.

The Javanese phrase means “pretending” or “as if”, distinct from Singapore’s “epok-epok” which means the curry puff snack. It slipped out during a livestream on the mayor’s official account at the end of October, before turning viral on Nov 1.

Within hours, the audio was everywhere. Hashtag #EpokEpokKeliling surged across TikTok, X and Instagram, drawing thousands of views and setting off a national debate about authenticity and performance in Indonesia’s politics.

The clip lasted just seconds. But in a digital culture where every frame is scrutinised, it was enough. Many Indonesians took the remark as a cynical comment implying that the mayor’s activities were staged – “as if working”. Others, familiar with local slang, insisted it was harmless production lingo for a “simulation” or “retake”.

In a country that prizes sincerity in public life, the nuance hardly mattered.