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EXCLUSIVE : PRESIDEN PRABOWO MENJAWAB (FULL VERSION)

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Summary of the Video: President Prabowo’s “Program Answer” (Full Version)

In this special discussion, President Prabowo Subianto meets with senior journalists and experts (TV/podcast/capital market observers). He addresses Indonesia’s foreign relations, economy, disaster management, governance and budgeting efficiency, political stability, corruption enforcement, decentralization, education quality, and defense/security posture.

The central theme is that Indonesia can sustain growth despite global instability and domestic challenges—through investment, state reform, efficiency, stronger institutions, and evidence-based policy.

1) Indonesia’s Ties with Russia and Foreign Policy Stance

  • Prabowo reiterates Indonesia’s traditional non-aligned approach: friendly with many countries without joining blocs.
  • He frames his multiple visits to Russia and other strategic nations as normal diplomacy to strengthen relations and invite investment.
  • He argues cooperation with Russia is “natural” given Russia’s geopolitical role and resource wealth, while also noting Indonesia would join forums elsewhere (e.g., the U.S./Europe) if invited.

2) Economic Growth, Investment Strategy, and Job Creation

  • Prabowo claims Indonesia’s economy is growing above 5%, supported by government programs and infrastructure, with a target of ~6% growth driven by private investment.
  • Indonesia’s investment competitiveness is described through:
    • licensing ease,
    • legal certainty (including rules affecting investor exit/withdrawal),
    • diplomatic outreach, including engagement with partners linked to Russia/BRICS-like initiatives.
  • He emphasizes evidence-based communication: many achievements are said to be visible even though his administration has been in office for under two years.
  • He cites large budget/investment figures and asserts that APBN targets are being met, alongside significant job creation numbers.

3) Global System Instability and the “Information/Cyber War” Narrative

  • Prabowo and contributors discuss instability in international institutions and claim Western-led systems are being dismantled.
  • They also stress information warfare, including social media disinformation/propaganda and alleged foreign efforts (or “stooges”) to keep Indonesia weak.
  • Supporters portray opposition demonstrations as sometimes being hijacked by anarchic elements, while Prabowo links stability to the fight against corruption.

4) Disaster Resilience: Volcanoes, Fires, Earthquakes, Smoke, and Drought/El Niño

Prabowo addresses multiple simultaneous disaster scenarios:

  • Krakatoa (Anak Krakatau) eruption
    • airport disruptions due to ash and flight delays
  • Forest fires
    • linked to El Niño-driven dry conditions
    • smoke spreading across borders
  • Earthquake risks
    • including risks in NTT (East Nusa Tenggara)

Response focus: preparedness and mitigation capacity

  • strengthening agencies,
  • upgrading equipment (helicopters, water-bombing aircraft, drones),
  • ordering specialized firefighting assets,
  • improving early warning systems and sensors,
  • exploring weather modification as a possible tool.

Cross-border haze diplomacy

  • On haze exposure, he claims Indonesia pursues proactive diplomacy and seeks international assistance (including Japan, China, and possibly Russia for large water-bombing planes).

5) Governance and Budgeting: Efficiency, Cutting Waste, and Anti-Corruption Stance

  • Prabowo emphasizes eliminating inefficiency and corruption.
  • Examples include cutting ceremonial/low-value spending (e.g., seminars, FGD, stationery, building rentals), arguing ministries purchase separately and miss bulk-discount benefits.
  • He claims budget leakages are addressed via:
    • auditing procurement,
    • centralizing purchasing where possible,
    • strengthening institutions,
    • enforcing discipline.

6) Priority Programs and Political/Electoral Risk

A journalist questions whether multiple flagship programs—such as food/nutrition, free/people-focused schooling, and food-energy self-sufficiency—create political risk amid indications of only mid-range approval.

  • Prabowo responds that basic needs cannot wait.
  • He argues program success is essential for stability, including stability related to regional conflict risks where food security is central.
  • He frames protests/demonstrations as legitimate in principle but insists destabilizing violence and “anarchic” manipulation must be handled seriously.

7) Under-Invoicing, Asset Recovery, and “Return of Money to the People”

Prabowo and speakers argue Indonesia has faced decades of under-invoicing/transfers and corruption.

  • The state is described as tracking and recovering assets through:
    • asset forfeiture and recovery mechanisms,
    • confiscations (including from illegal land/mining and environmental violations),
    • redirecting recovered funds into fiscal space (e.g., school repairs and renovations).
  • The discussion includes detailed figures on asset recovery performance and targets.
  • The emphasis is that confiscated proceeds should benefit the public, especially public services such as education infrastructure.

8) Natural Resource Control, Downstreaming, and Investor Confidence

  • Contributors question how rating agencies interpret policies like mineral value chain downstreaming and export regulation.
  • Prabowo argues foreign ratings are influenced by political interests and lobbying rather than fundamentals alone.
  • He frames downstreaming and strategic resource control as strengthening:
    • long-term growth,
    • fiscal resilience,
    • and national value creation (mentioning nickel, copper, critical minerals, gas, and rare earth potential).

9) Decentralization and Regional Governance Problems

A major portion focuses on central–local dynamics:

  • claims that regional budget (APBD) issues and high political costs distort local governance,
  • allegations that many local elites (governors/regents) are arrested, implying governance capture and weak integrity.

Prabowo responds with:

  • a unitary state principle,
  • insistence that funds should be objective and audited,
  • and suggestions to improve local leadership competency (e.g., training/academy-like systems for governors/regents before appointment).

10) Education Crisis: Basic Numeracy Gaps and Teacher Reform

A journalist cites concerning education data, particularly that 4th-grade students lack basic numeracy.

Prabowo’s proposed solution includes:

  • repairing the education system starting from teacher recruitment,
  • upgrading training (including digital tools for teacher development),
  • potential “crash programs” to deploy emergency teachers,
  • improving teacher welfare,
  • ensuring clearer central standards, including competency testing and central involvement,
  • discussing cancellation/adjustments of certain education exam structures,
  • increasing learning support tools (e.g., smart screens in schools).

11) Defense Posture and Law Enforcement Balance

Contributors ask about the role of the TNI in civilian spaces and concerns about civil society autonomy.

  • Prabowo argues Indonesia’s vast geography and “Ring of Fire” risks justify a stronger security presence to deter illegal activities (logging/mining/smuggling) and enable faster disaster response.
  • At the same time, he stresses improving:
    • police/prosecutor competence and integrity,
    • professionalism to avoid brutality or excessive enforcement.
  • Core message: security presence is necessary, but legal institutions must be clean and reliable; corruption is described as a system-wide disease.

12) BUMN (State-Owned Enterprises) Reform and Accountability

Multiple speakers discuss reform of BUMN:

  • closing loss-making entities,
  • saving funds from overhead and inefficiency,
  • demanding accountability for long-standing mismanagement.

Prabowo argues:

  • the state is transforming BUMN to be more productive and less politically captured,
  • and legal follow-up may be pursued, including the idea of special accountability mechanisms for past board actions.
  • He mentions potential amnesty-like options for “justice collaborators,” but only with returns and responsibility.

13) Final Reflections and Personal Leadership Ethos

  • Prabowo portrays his leadership approach as duty-bound rather than “brave for pride.”
  • He emphasizes continuous work discipline and unity, with a historical perspective (including a “warrior of the light” theme).
  • The program closes with discussion on practical governance execution and further reforms—continuing focus on:
    • food security,
    • energy,
    • reducing budget leakage,
    • downstreaming,
    • and job creation.

Presenters / Contributors (As Stated in the Subtitles)

  • President Prabowo Subianto
  • Liviana Charlisa (host/moderator)
  • Rifana / “Rivana” Pratiwi (Metro TV Deputy Editor-in-Chief; journalist)
  • Andromeda Mercury (TV One senior journalist / presenter)
  • Ratna Susilowati (Freedom/Free People news director; senior journalist)
  • Wahyu Danil (CNBC Indonesia Editor-in-Chief; journalist)
  • Akbar Faisal (politician, senior journalist, podcast host)
  • Prof. Gema Gunyardi / Gema Guru Yardi (Founder/CEO of Astronacci International; capital market observer)

Original video