Parliament Urges No More Presidential Aides Acting to 'Please the Boss'
A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Party faction, Azis Subekti, has offered remarks on the cabinet and policy implementers under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership. He stressed that the current economic stability will not mean much if it is not accompanied by honest execution in the field.
Azis highlighted the gap between neat macroeconomic figures and the reality experienced by the public at the grassroots level.
“It is time for us to say this clearly: there should be no more presidential aides and their subordinates who are mediocre in character and behave in a ‘please the boss’ manner. This country does not need beautiful reports on paper that are fragile in practice,” Azis stated in his remarks on Thursday (9/4/2026).
Azis appreciated President Prabowo Subianto’s briefing during the cabinet working meeting at the State Palace on 8 April 2026, which emphasised budget discipline and a focus on the people’s economy. According to him, the direction of the policy is already very appropriate, but the biggest challenge lies in the character of implementation by the subordinates.
He urged ministers and agency heads to be bolder in conveying real obstacles rather than merely presenting reassuring success figures.
“Get used to reporting difficulties that require breakthroughs and coordination in policy execution, not just reassuring success numbers. Because only from honesty can policies be improved,” the Gerindra legislator emphasised firmly.
Amid strong economic indicators such as foreign exchange reserves of USD 151.9 billion and a controlled debt ratio, Azis reminded of signs of weakening purchasing power among the middle class and SMEs. He illustrated this condition through phenomena in markets and small shops.
“Our economy grows in numbers, but has not fully grown in feeling. A shop owner may not read fiscal reports, but he knows one simple thing: customers come, but no longer buy as they used to,” he revealed.
In addition to internal evaluation, Azis also highlighted the proliferation of misleading narratives and hoaxes claiming that the national economy is collapsing. According to him, criticism is indeed necessary in democracy, but criticism lacking a data foundation will only erode public confidence, which is the foundation of investment.
“We see claims that the economy is collapsing, that the country is losing control, narratives that sound strong but are fragile when tested. Hoaxes muddy it, emotions accelerate it,” Azis added.
Furthermore, he emphasised that the stability Indonesia currently possesses is merely a time buffer. Real transformation can only occur if the government prioritises quality and honesty in every step of execution.
“If stability is not followed by honesty in execution, then it will only be a calm that delays problems,” he concluded.