Academic: Prabowo Stirs Optimism and Calls for Real Action

Jakarta (ANTARA) - University academics have assessed that President Prabowo Subianto’s directives at the closing of the National Sarasehan of the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) in Jakarta on Sunday (28/6) have sparked optimism regarding the direction of development while encouraging contributions to the nation’s progress. One such view was expressed by Indri Arrafi, a lecturer at UPN Veteran Jakarta, who felt that Prabowo’s guidance had boosted her optimism about Indonesia’s future. “When we listen to everything that was said, the speeches of the ministers and also what was delivered by the President, we see optimism for the development of the Indonesian nation,” Indri said according to a statement received on Sunday. Nevertheless, Prabowo invited academics to see the positive side of the situation rather than continuing to view it negatively. Indri added that Prabowo also requested this perspective be applied in addressing various other issues in Indonesia, such as poverty and unemployment. According to her, in facing these various problems, Prabowo called on the higher education community to remain optimistic that these issues can be overcome, while emphasising the importance of collaboration through real action. In agreement, Suhadi Lili, a lecturer at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya, said Prabowo’s directives served as an inspiration for the cross-institutional university community to unite their spirit in building Indonesia. He considered the directives highly relevant to the current situation, where Indonesia must formulate strategies to survive amid global uncertainty. “I think the President is very positive in uniting us. I think his directives can be an inspiration for our realignment on campus,” he said.