Prabowo: Do Not Admire Nations That Loot Other Nations' Wealth
President Prabowo Subianto has urged Indonesians not to be overly impressed by nations that accumulate wealth by taking wealth from other countries, during a speech at the DPR plenary on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. He referenced colonialism, saying, “We should not be too impressed by nations whose wealth comes from taking wealth from other nations,” in remarks at the MPR/DPR/DPD complex.
The chairman of the Gerindra Party said the founders of the nation experienced such plunder during the colonial era, noting how Nusantara’s wealth was taken by others. He described how Indonesians were humiliated and their dignity stolen under colonial rule, stating, “The founders of the nation understood what imperialism means.”
Prabowo highlighted that the Netherlands once had the world’s highest per capita GDP in the period from the 1500s to the 1800s, despite being a small country, and argued that this achievement arose from colonial domination in the archipelago that is now Indonesia.
Therefore, he said Indonesians must not feel inferior and should not constantly admire what foreign powers teach, particularly when those powers do not practise what they preach. Still, he said people should learn from history and keep drawing lessons from it, quoting the adage that a nation that does not learn from history will be punished by history, lest it repeat the past.
The retired general also stressed that Indonesian leaders must be strong. “If leaders in the archipelago are weak and not united, then the wealth of the archipelago will continue to be taken by powers outside the archipelago. This is history, this is happening,” he warned.
Prabowo attended the plenary session to present the macroeconomic framework and the main fiscal policy outline (KEM-PPKF). He becomes the first president to deliver the KEM-PPKF to parliament in person.
Mukhamad Misbakhun, Chairman of Commission XI of the DPR, said that typically the macroeconomic framework and fiscal policy outline are presented by the Finance Minister on behalf of the President. “Today, it was read directly by the President; this heralds a new tradition,” he said at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
Misbakhun explained that presenting the KEM-PPKF marks the initial step in discussions of the state budget draft for 2027. The President will review macro assumptions, including economic growth, inflation, the rupiah exchange rate, ICP for crude oil and gas lifting, indicative budget ceilings for ministries and agencies, and the tenor of 10-year government securities.
Rather than appearing at the plenary due to rupiah weakness, Misbakhun said the President’s presence would draw public attention to the framework, noting that this would become a new tradition in constitutional governance.
Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi contributed to the writing of this article.