Lintas 98 North Sumatra Backs Prabowo-Gibran's Strategic Programmes with 8-Point Political Stance

A number of activists from Lintas 98 North Sumatra and the 98 Resolution Network have expressed support for various strategic programmes under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The endorsement was conveyed through a political statement titled ‘From Freedom of Speech Towards Equitable Welfare with the Prabowo-Gibran Administration’ in Medan on Friday (26/6/2026). The statement emerged amid intensifying national political dynamics marked by criticism from various community groups and students towards several government policies. However, Lintas 98 North Sumatra assessed that the current administration has begun to realise some of the ideals of the 1998 Reform, particularly in efforts to eradicate corruption, reorganise natural resource management, and promote equitable welfare. Spokesperson for the 98 Resolution Network, Turman Simanjuntak, stated that the group does not wish to be trapped in political polarisation, but rather to convey views based on developments they have observed. ‘We are trying to respond to the political dynamics occurring lately. We are not entering the debate arena, but we want to convey that many of the ideals of the 1998 Reform are actually starting to be implemented under President Prabowo’s administration,’ Turman said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday (27/6/2026). Despite offering support, Turman emphasised that the reform activists continue to exercise a control function over the running of the government. ‘We will oversee government policies to ensure they run well. On the other hand, we will also continue to provide criticism and input for the improvement of governance,’ he asserted. Meanwhile, Activity Coordinator Edison Marbun called on all actors of the 1998 Reform to evaluate the journey of reform over nearly three decades. According to him, political democracy has not yet fully progressed in tandem with economic democratisation. As a result, public welfare is considered to remain uneven despite the opening of political freedoms.