Prabowo Subianto pronounced the phrase “Honden en Inlander Verboden” − which means “Dogs and Natives Prohibited” − inscribed on a moss-covered plaque of a former Dutch building in the late 1970s as he began his presidential inauguration speech on Sunday morning. This phrase ignited his passion for building a better Indonesia. Now, on October 20, 2024, Prabowo is officially inaugurated as Indonesia’s 8th President.
In his first 40-minute speech at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), he also outlined the main focuses of his presidency: food security, energy independence, and anti-corruption efforts.
Food security: A primary mission
Food security is Prabowo’s top priority. He emphasized the importance of reducing dependency on other countries and is committed to making Indonesia a global food hub. He reminded the audience that Indonesia’s independence is inextricably linked to the roles of farmers and fishermen who fed the troops during the struggle for freedom. Prabowo also highlighted the importance of water security as a support for food security. As Minister of Defense, he has concentrated on these programs alongside strengthening the military.
Prabowo also expressed concern about the nutritional issues facing Indonesian children and pledged to provide free nutritious meals for them. “Indonesian children deserve at least one free, nutritious meal,” he asserted.
Energy independence and local economic empowerment
Continuing on the topic of food, Prabowo addressed energy independence, stating that Indonesia must utilize its energy sources such as geothermal, water, and coal independently. He stressed that downstream processing and community empowerment are essential for boosting local economic strength.
Anti-corruption: Building public trust
Prabowo also discussed the significant challenge of rampant corruption. He highlighted that many Indonesians remain trapped in poverty despite the country’s independence. “If a fish starts to rot, it begins with the head,” he said, urging leaders to set a good example in law enforcement.
With an optimistic spirit, Prabowo emphasized that a brave nation is one that can turn the seemingly impossible into reality.
Honoring previous leaders and calling for collaboration
In his speech, Prabowo reminded that sovereignty of the people is the essence of State ideology Pancasila, while expressing his commitment to working for the people. He called for collaboration amidst political, cultural, and religious differences, exemplifying the cooperation established between him and his predecessor Joko Widodo, despite their past electoral rivalry.
At the end of his speech, Prabowo expressed his gratitude to the seven former presidents of Indonesia and their respective contributions. He honored Sukarno for being the architect of Pancasila and for his fight for Indonesia’s independence; Soeharto for upholding Pancasila and building a modern Indonesia; Habibie for his contributions to science and technology; Abdurrahman Wahid for promoting inclusivity and interfaith tolerance in Indonesia; Megawati Soekarnoputri for addressing the economic issues following the downfall of the New Order in 1998; Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for leading Indonesia during numerous natural disasters, earthquakes, tsunamis, and economic crises; and finally, Joko Widodo for navigating Indonesia to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, it is noteworthy that Prabowo did not mention the National Capital (IKN) in his tribute to Joko Widodo, raising speculation about his commitment to this ambitious project.
