Prabowo: A Nation with Weak Elites Fears the Rising Dollar

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has criticised elites who fear the rise of the US dollar and are concerned that stocks of fuel oil (BBM) will be insufficient. According to Prabowo, such fear could render Indonesia a weak nation. ‘Without prosperity we cannot safeguard our sovereignty. The likely outcome is that we will become a weak nation, a nation that always fears the dollar rising, fears that BBM is not enough, fears this, fears that—the nation whose elites are afraid,’ Prabowo said during the Plenary Session of the DPR in the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20 May 2026). Yet he noted that Indonesia’s wealth has flowed out of the country since the New Order era. Prabowo also contended that the country’s economic system is not aligned with the right path to become a prosperous nation. ‘Perhaps the differences between us and countries such as Mexico, India, the Philippines, and others are systemic differences. We must look at the facts; if we continue the current system for several more years, I am sure we will not become a prosperous nation,’ he added. The rupiah opened at Rp 17,738 per US dollar, weakening by 0.18 percent from the previous close at Rp 17,706 per dollar. With the depreciation, the rupiah became the currency with the deepest correction in the region in morning trading.