Prabowo Baffled by Critics Who Refuse to Help Build 'Bridges'

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto admitted he is puzzled by groups who refuse to collaborate but enjoy levelling criticism. He used the construction of bridges for the people as an analogy.

“I just don’t understand; when people want to build a bridge, there are those who sit around, they don’t want to help build the bridge, but they criticise,” said Prabowo while giving instructions to ministers, deputy ministers, agency heads, and echelon I officials of the ministries at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

“Those who want to build the bridge, come on, let’s build the bridge. Those who don’t want to join in building the bridge, that’s fine. Feel free to sit, watch, or whatever, you can criticise, that’s allowed,” said Prabowo.

However, Prabowo does not understand why his decision not to collaborate is followed by criticism or comments, even though the critics are not involved in building the bridge.

The critics of the bridge construction even deem Prabowo foolish and wrong in building the bridge.

The Head of State said that those bridges cannot be completed if criticised bit by bit.

Prabowo is willing to be considered foolish by the critics as long as the construction for the people’s benefit is carried out.

“Yes, I’m stupid, but the people in the villages are asking for bridges, I’m building bridges for our people,” Prabowo asserted firmly.

Prabowo explained that this phenomenon actually occurs in many countries.

This phenomenon is not new, but has been happening for years or even hundreds of years. This event is part of the disruption by foreign nations.

“This phenomenon is not just one or two years. It’s been hundreds of years. When we were disturbed, colonised by foreign nations, there were always our brothers and sisters, from our own nation, who also made it easier for those foreign nations to colonise us, plunder our wealth, and make us slaves. Those were our own brothers and sisters,” explained Prabowo.

He reiterated that such actions are a form of envy and malice. Therefore, criticism is only offered without attempting to work together and help each other.

“So this is not a new phenomenon. It’s normal. The seeds of envy, jealousy, spite, that’s part of human nature. Hatred, grudges, resentment, that’s part of it. And indeed, it exists. We must not be surprised,” Prabowo emphasised.