Prabowo Government Urged to Fight Corruption More Proactively
The activist community 98 Resolution Network declared its commitment to scrutinise the Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration to ensure it remains aligned with the 1998 reform mandate and the constitution. The statement was made during the 28th anniversary of the reform movement held in the SCBD district on Thursday (21 May).
Pioneering figure Haris Rusly Moti said President Prabowo’s address at the DPR plenary on Wednesday (20 May) reflected a commitment to democracy in the current era and optimism for Indonesia’s future.
“If we compare it with the political address President Prabowo gave for National Awakening Day in the DPR yesterday, I think that speech already surpasses the ideas, views, thoughts and social movements of the New Order and the Reform era,” Haris said at a press conference.
According to Haris, the Prabowo-Gibran government programmes remain aligned with the reform mandate of 1998, particularly the democratisation of the economy as laid out in the 1945 Constitution Article 33.
“The government’s programme for Prabowo-Gibran remains in line with the reform mandate of 1998 and the constitutional mandate. The democraticisation of the economy is enshrined in the 1945 Constitution, particularly Article 33,” he said.
He also noted that the government’s move to seize assets derived from criminal corruption forms part of implementing the reform demands long voiced by the public.
Haris referred to a number of cases that, in his view, demonstrate the government’s seriousness in stamping out corruption, including the seizure of proceeds in the crude palm oil (CPO) case involving Wilmar Group and the broker case at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia that implicated Zarof Ricar.
“This mandate has been carried out by President Prabowo. Those involved in the reform movements surely still recall the slogan “Sita Harta Koruptor untuk Subsidi Rakyat” [Confiscate Corruptors’ Assets for People’s Subsidies] painted on banners and echoed in every protest podium. President Prabowo has stated that the money seized from corruption will be used for the people,” he said.
In addition, 98 Resolution Network said the government would not reduce the education budget. Haris noted that education allocation would continue to rise each year in line with the constitutional requirement of 20 percent of the state budget.
“The MBG budget is not drawn from the education budget; rather, it results from realignment and efficiency savings from the Non-Education TKD and previously stagnant regional budgets,” Haris said.
Going forward, the activist network said it would continue to monitor the Prabowo-Gibran administration, particularly in the anti-corruption agenda, which it argues needs to be pursued more progressively.
“An anti-corruption approach that is more progressive regarding corruption affecting state revenues—aligned with the reform mandate,” Haris said.
“To date, anti-corruption efforts have focused on government expenditure corruption, which is not as large as corruption affecting the state’s revenue,” he added.
Political analyst BRIN Lili Romi said she agrees with President Prabowo’s view on the importance of political parties outside government. She argued that such practice directly affects media credibility and journalists who rely on public trust.
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