PKS Legislator Responds to Prabowo's State Address, Calls for Measurable Impact

Johan Rosihan, Secretary of the PKS Faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s state address at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the DPR and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD). He assessed that the speech demonstrated optimism and strong confidence in the direction of national development.

In his address, the President outlined a number of achievements during his 21-month administration, particularly in the areas of food and energy security, education, healthcare, social protection, downstreaming, and the management of national resources.

“Overall, the President’s speech reflected optimism, self-belief, and a clear grand strategy for realising a sovereign, just, and prosperous Indonesia. This direction certainly deserves our appreciation,” Johan said in a statement on Friday (14/8/2026), following the session at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.

The legislator, who serves on Commission IV overseeing agriculture and maritime affairs, cautioned that the Annual Session should not merely be a platform for announcing successes but also a constitutional moment for open and objective evaluation. “Every achievement claimed must be felt concretely by the people and verifiable through transparent data and measurable indicators. The success of a government is not determined by the number of programmes and policies alone, but by their real impact on the people’s lives,” he stated.

Johan specifically noted the President’s remarks on 21 transformative policies implemented over 663 days, including self-sufficiency in eight food commodities, a 20 percent reduction in fertiliser prices, the development of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, the Free Nutritious Meals programme, People’s Schools, and Fishermen’s Villages. “As a member of Commission IV, I pay special attention to achievements in food, agriculture, forestry, marine, and fisheries sectors. The benchmark must be clear: whether farmers’ and fishers’ welfare has genuinely improved, production costs have fallen, food prices remain stable, and the benefits of development truly reach the regions,” he explained.

Johan also appreciated the President’s firmness in his policies despite facing negative assessments on social media. He considered steadfastness a crucial part of leadership, arguing that a president should not easily change policy direction due to momentary public opinion pressure. “A leader must not be easily swayed by noise or uproar on social media. However, steadfastness must not turn into closed-mindedness. Fact-based criticism, especially concerning economic hardship, food prices, job opportunities, public services, and the public’s sense of justice, must still be heard as a correction mechanism in a democracy,” he said.

Addressing the President’s delivery style, which was perceived as more textual with minimal improvisation, Johan deemed it appropriate given the speech was delivered in a constitutional state forum where every piece of data, statement, and policy direction must be accurate and accountable. “A textual delivery does not mean a loss of substance. In an official forum like the MPR Annual Session, the accuracy of data and messaging is paramount. However, measured improvisation can strengthen the President’s emotional connection with the people and provide emphasis on the most pressing issues,” he clarified.

Johan affirmed that the House would continue to exercise its legislative, budgetary, and oversight functions to ensure the targets presented by the President are implemented consistently, accurately, and equitably. “The state address must serve as a moral and political contract between the government and the people. Therefore, all claims of achievement and future agendas must be jointly monitored to ensure they truly deliver prosperity, strengthen social justice, and reach communities across the regions,” he concluded.