Exhibiting a complete lack of knowledge about the very basics of HIV/AIDS and how it can be transmitted, Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel recently said it was possible to contract the disease by wearing second-hand clothing.

“[Used clothes] can give you skin diseases or HIV. It’s true, we have tested it in a laboratory,” Rachmat said at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, as quoted by Detik.

Rachmat was explaining that that was one of the reasons the government had banned the sale of used clothing from overseas (in addition to protecting local textile manufacturers).

Health activists were quick to criticize Rachmat’s comments. The Jakarta Globe quoted a statement from Ayu Octariani of the Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC) as saying: “Let’s not talk about educating the public just yet. Even in the cabinet, which consists of educated people, there’s still a misconception about HIV/AIDS.”

Rachmat eventually apologized for the comments on Twitter

Mohon maaf, saya klarifikasi: mengenai pemakaian pakaian bekas bisa menularkan berbagai macam penyakit. Thanks atas koreksi berbagai pihak. — Rachmat Gobel (@RachmatGobel) February 4, 2015

Sincere apologies, I’ll clarify: wearing used clothes can transmit various kind of diseases. Thank you for the correction.

He later tweeted this gem:

Mari kita jaga harkat martabat bangsa. Masak kita mau memakai bra dan celana dalam bekas bangsa lain? http://t.co/pffCczMmLZ — Rachmat Gobel (@RachmatGobel) February 4, 2015

Let us keep the dignity of the nation. How could we want to use used bras and panties from another country?

Oh, and don’t forget, this is the same brilliant guy behind the upcoming minimarket beer ban.

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