Prabowo Dismisses Criticism of Economic Programmes: 'Euweuh Pangaruhna'

President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the economic strengthening programmes run by his administration will continue despite a barrage of criticism. The Head of State made the remarks at the peak event commemorating National Cooperatives Day in the Senayan area of Jakarta on Sunday, 12 July 2026.

In his speech, Prabowo touched upon a group he referred to as “clever people”. According to him, this group frequently disparages government programmes aimed at strengthening the national economy.

“When we want to create a programme, a flow to strengthen our own nation, we are mocked, disparaged, slandered, and attacked. But euweuh pangaruhna (it has no effect). I say euweuh pangaruhna. We keep moving forward,” Prabowo said.

On that occasion, Prabowo said he does not believe in neoliberalism. He said he had warned from the outset that neoliberal capitalism—a global economic system emphasising free markets—would not bring prosperity to the people.

“I do not believe in neoliberal theories. They say, ‘oh, we must think globally, there are no more borders’, well, right,” Prabowo remarked.

Prabowo said that under the neoliberal economic concept, the people are blamed for their own poverty. In addition, he said the ideology also allows the nation’s wealth to be controlled by a handful of people.

“The neoliberal view is, if you are poor, it is your own fault. The neoliberal view says, ‘let only 1 per cent be rich. If they are rich, eventually their wealth will trickle down.’ I ask you: do you believe it will trickle down?” Prabowo said.

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party claimed that the ideology has already been abandoned by leaders in Western countries. “America, Britain, Western Europe, they have abandoned it. Only here… I do not know, there are clever people who are perhaps too clever or something, I do not understand,” he said.