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n a speech made at the Gerindra Party National Conference in Bogor, West Java, on Monday, Gerindra chairman and presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto told thousands of party members that Indonesia could go extinct if he did not prevail over President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the upcoming election.

“We must not lose. If we lose, this country could go extinct,” he said. “Because the Indonesian elites are always disappointing, always failing to carry out the mandate given by the Indonesian people.”

He said the country had been heading in the wrong direction for decades.

“If the same system continues, Indonesia will become weak. Indonesia will become even poorer, even more helpless and could even go extinct,” he said.

The statement was met with criticism and derision from Prabowo’s political opponents who said the former general’s speech was an exaggeration and overly negative.

“Prabowo never repents. He’s always trying to scare the people,” Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) secretary-general and Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin campaign team spokesman Raja Juli Antoni told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. “What can be expected from a presidential candidate that can only spread fear and pessimism?”

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said the public should not be alarmed by Prabowo’s statement.