Prabowo at National Cooperatives Day: 'Your Faces Aren't Those Who Flee with Money Abroad'

President Prabowo Subianto cracked a joke while attending the peak event of the National Cooperatives Day (Harkopnas) commemoration. He remarked that the faces of the attendees were not the faces of people who abscond with money abroad.

Initially, Prabowo explained that cooperatives are a tool for the weak and the poor. He urged the public not to worry because cooperatives will become an economic strength for Indonesia.

“Ladies and gentlemen, cooperatives are the tool of the weak, the tool of the poor. But, like a broomstick, one stick, one stick, one stick, is weak. But when joined together, that is your strength. Do not worry, the Indonesian Cooperative movement will rise to become an economic force for Indonesia. An Indonesian force that will not run away with money from Indonesia. Is that right?” Prabowo said at GBK, Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday (12/7/2026).

Prabowo then joked that the faces of the attendees at the event were not the faces of people who run away with money abroad. He said there was no problem with going abroad for a holiday, as he had received reports that many farmers and fishermen are now holidaying overseas.

“I want to see the faces of these cooperative members. Your faces are not the faces of people who run away with money abroad, right? But there’s no problem, I have received reports that many farmers are now holidaying abroad, that’s fine. Holidays are allowed, when else could farmers holiday abroad? Now, because we are going to make farmers, fishermen, and labourers prosperous,” he said.

Prabowo further expressed his confidence that the Indonesian economy will rise. He pledged to return Indonesia’s wealth.

“Our economy will rise from the villages, sub-districts, and regencies. And the money will stay in the villages, sub-districts, and regencies. We will reverse it; if all this time the wealth of the Indonesian people was siphoned off, we will return it now. The economy will trickle down to the people,” he added.