Agus Jabo Highlights Competition for Natural Resources, Says Indonesia Must Be Self-Reliant
Chairman of the Partai Rakyat Adil Makmur (PRIMA), Agus Jabo Priyono, has emphasised the importance of Indonesia becoming a self-reliant nation with a strong personality amid increasingly competitive global dynamics, particularly in the contest for natural resources. He views self-sufficiency in the food and energy sectors as key to enabling Indonesia to survive and maintain its sovereignty.
According to him, from the era of tribalism to modern capitalism, natural resources have often triggered conflicts. In such conditions, those with power tend to seek legitimacy to pressure weaker parties in order to control resources.
“In many cases, law and democracy no longer dominate. What prevails is power and authority. The conflicts that occur are no longer purely ideological, but more about efforts to secure each country’s interests,” he stated in a written release on Tuesday (24/3/2026).
Agus Jabo emphasised that the availability of food and energy is an absolute requirement for a nation to stand firm. Therefore, sovereignty in these two sectors must be the top priority.
“A nation will be strong if it can independently meet the basic needs of its people. Sovereign industrialisation and downstreaming of natural resources, grounded in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, form the main foundation to achieve this,” he said.
He added that the welfare of the people can only be realised if essential sources of life are managed sovereignly and distributed equitably. He also highlighted the importance of universal access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
According to him, the state must ensure that all citizens, especially those of productive age, have jobs, and provide protection for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and those suffering from catastrophic illnesses.
In the context of the current government, Agus Jabo views various programmes under President Prabowo Subianto as part of efforts to realise a self-reliant and sovereign Indonesia.
“Downstreaming of natural resources, food and energy sovereignty, free nutritious meal programmes, people’s schools, village cooperatives, and fishing villages are concrete steps towards national self-reliance and people’s prosperity,” he explained.
However, Agus Jabo also warned of the challenges faced in their implementation. He accused certain groups of merely pursuing personal gain and attempting to obstruct the government’s pro-people programmes.
“There are groups that I call ‘serakahnomics’, namely imperialist and oligarchic forces that want to continue controlling Indonesia’s natural resources and manipulating political economy to protect their capital interests,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Agus Jabo highlighted corruption practices, which he sees as still hindering national progress, as well as efforts to delegitimise government programmes through various means, including provocation and attempts to divide society. According to him, amid current global uncertainties, Indonesia needs to strengthen national awareness and unity.
“Awareness as one nation with one goal must reignite. National unity is the key to safeguarding common interests,” he stated.
He urged all elements of the nation to return to the national identity based on Pancasila and abandon liberal practices that he views as damaging the foundations of nationhood and statehood. In this way, he is optimistic that the ideals of the Proclamation to realise a strong, self-reliant, just, prosperous, and personality-endowed Indonesia can be achieved.
“We must ensure there is no longer room for imperialists, oligarchs, and corruptors on the soil of Pancasila,” he concluded.