Prabowo Amazed at Many Clever Thieves and Vows to Crack Down

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, expressed amazement at why there are now so many clever ‘thieves’. He admitted he could not comprehend it and felt called upon to address this problem. “I just can’t fathom it. Brothers and sisters, I feel called because from a young age I joined the military to protect this country, to defend this country, to defend my people. But I was shocked that after I retired, I saw that my people were still suffering so much,” he stated at the Labour Day event at Monas on Friday (1/5/2026). He felt that the working class had always stood behind him. Prabowo even revealed that he could become President of the Republic of Indonesia thanks to the support of workers, farmers, and fishermen. “But I feel that workers, farmers, and fishermen have always been with me. Only we know that sometimes they are the clever ones, but that’s okay; in the end, brothers and sisters gave me the mandate, and believe me, I will give everything to defend my people. The rest of my life is for my people, brothers and sisters all,” he explained. Prabowo attended the peak of the International Labour Day commemoration at Monas, Central Jakarta, on Friday (1/5/2026). Also present were, among others, Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco, ministers from the Red and White Cabinet, leaders of labour unions, and thousands of workers who attended from various regions in the country.