Prabowo: An Egalitarian Leader in the History of the Republic of Indonesia

“If you are honest with me, I should be allowed to be honest and straightforward too.” These are words often uttered by President Prabowo on various occasions, including in interviews or roundtable discussions with several figures in Hambalang a few days ago.

These are the president’s words that position him as an egalitarian, elevating the status of democracy and human rights.

He communicates in a humanistic, egalitarian, democratic, transparent, accountable, scientific, and controlled manner as a leader and statesman.

On various occasions, I have witnessed when someone poses a question to the nation’s leader, they often claim to represent the people.

Which people? Even though the questioner is frequently the child of a former minister who lives in Indonesia’s elite circles, never descending to live in suffering with the people, never experiencing real situations on the ground, including never seeing the results of nearly Rp 1,300 trillion in the state budget for various people-oriented programmes.

To be honest, today the people have felt how the throne is for the people and the wealth is for the people. This is evidenced in the last 15 years, the Gini Ratio index has reached 0.363, the best in the last 15 years.

This means there is an ongoing equalisation of people’s purchasing power. Alright, the point is, do not use personal feelings and then claim and say that I am asking on behalf of public sentiment! We never know which public we represent?

Was not the President elected by 96,214,691 voters? Are not 50% of the ministers and deputy ministers in this cabinet figures from the Indonesian independence movement who have struggled for years alongside the people?

Are not the government advisors, including the Ministry of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, prominent figures and guardians of the Republic of Indonesia? Are not the current government experts figures from the movement?

Meanwhile, those who are nitpicking, I observe, are newly learning to be activists; including some who are newly retired echelon 1 civil servants from the New Order and Reformasi governments, etc., as well as those on the losing side of the election.

I also observe that questions posed to the president, which should be about the vision and mission of where the country is headed, instead ask about technical works that should be directed to the relevant ministers and deputy ministers.

But, okay. That is the great spirit of President Prabowo who is very patient in entertaining all those questions.

From my perspective as the Minister of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, our bias is clear on several public issues. For example, during the wild shootings by rogue apparatus members in 2024, the Tempo media pig head terror case, condemnation of the low sentence in the mega corruption case of PT Timah, protection of activists and students during demonstrations and the August 2025 riots, the ministry’s demand to free activist Del Pedro and others, and the firm stance and concrete actions of the Ministry of Human Rights in responding to the acid splashing on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.

I convey that the Minister of Human Rights was the first government official (executive) to be present and state a position defending the victims and the people.

I may say that never in the history of the Reformasi has a minister (presidential aide) loudly stated their position in an incident for the sake of justice and protection of citizens.

Returning to the Hambalang Roundtable Forum. The public at least increasingly understands the entire thoughts and feelings of President Prabowo Subianto.

I, who have delved deeply into his thoughts and feelings, see Prabowo as a figure who loves the people, the nation, and the country from the depths of his heart.

The president’s responses to various questions show that Prabowo is an egalitarian leader in the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

This attitude is in stark contrast to Indonesia’s leadership over nearly 80 years of independence, which positioned leaders as divine incarnations (just king) whose words were like the ‘Divine Rights of the King’.

Today, Prabowo shows himself as an egalitarian, democratic leader who upholds humanistic values, and all Indonesians accept and see how sincere he is for his people.

So, enough! Stop the anarchy, stop the provocation, stop the incitement, stop the conspiracy, stop the division. Indonesia is a prominent democratic country in the world.

Anyone may criticise to improve government work programmes, but do not have malicious intentions, including, for example, to change the government before 2029.

I convey a little here. In 1999 during the reformasi, I was an activist in SMID, PRD, LMND, PMKRI, Student Senate, and also Chairman of the International Papua Students.

To reach the 1999 reformasi, we had already worked for 5 years beforehand. From 1994, emerging again in 1996, peaking in 1997, massive movement in 1998, where I myself burned Gejayan 98, now famous with the slogan ‘Gejayan Memanggil’, until the reformasi could finally be achieved in 1999. There is no regime change like lightning and thunder.

Moreover, the TNI and Polri today are very compact in carrying out state duties, and the international world also sees Indonesia actively contributing to creating world peace.

The world sees President Prabowo as an important and prominent figure from a neutral country, and he is needed by world leaders.

I witnessed with my own eyes UN Secretary-General Guterres asking President Prabowo to contribute to creating world peace, including maintaining regional peace.

From this, I conclude that the circumstances do not allow for a regime change, so it will not achieve short-term targets as conveyed by RG.

It is best in the momentum of the Eid al-Fitr that we have just celebrated; let us unite, work together to build the nation and country. Later, there will be time for us to ‘battle’ in 2029 and be ready to compete fairly with whoever.

All sons and daughters of the nation have equal opportunities to advance and compete in 2029. Independent Indonesia! Peaceful, just, and prosperous.”