Lampung Senator Urges Prabowo-Gibran to Continue Predecessors' Development Legacy

DPD RI member for the Lampung electoral district, Bustami Zainudin, has expressed support for the appreciation and respect conveyed by DPD RI Chairman Sultan B Najamudin to former presidents, particularly the title of ‘Father of Infrastructure’ bestowed upon Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). The tribute was delivered by Sultan during the Plenary Session of the MPR RI Annual Session alongside the Joint Session of the DPR RI and DPD RI at the Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14/8/2026). Bustami assessed that the title has a strong foundation and is not merely a formal expression of respect. ‘In my view, when Mr Jokowi is called the Father of Indonesian Infrastructure Development, it is not just about giving a title. There are facts that we can see and feel on the ground. In almost all regions, the public has felt the presence of infrastructure development during his leadership,’ said Bustami in a statement on Saturday (15/8/2026). Bustami emphasised that the success of infrastructure development in the Jokowi era is evident from the commitment to an Indonesia-centric approach to equitable development extending beyond Java. The presence of toll roads, airports, ports, bridges and dams has proven successful in reducing logistics costs and opening up local economic access. ‘As a DPD member representing the regions, we have seen first-hand how development has brought about change. There are areas that were previously difficult to reach that are now open. This is a development legacy whose benefits do not cease when the government changes,’ he explained. He added that appreciation for previous leaders is a sign of national maturity in maintaining the continuity of the nation’s foundations. Furthermore, Bustami also expressed appreciation for the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. He expressed hope that the current administration would continue and refine the achievements of equitable development across all corners of Indonesia. ‘For those of us in the regions, development is not merely about figures and statistics. Development is a road that can be travelled, a bridge that connects, and access that gives the public equal opportunities to progress,’ he asserted.