Prabowo: I am Surprised That Some Professors Defend Foreign Interests

President Prabowo Subianto spoke regarding individuals with high levels of education who fail to recognise the injustices present in Indonesia. Prabowo expressed that he finds such a situation strange.

Initially, Prabowo highlighted the motto of the Modern Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School. According to him, the motto aligns with the values held by the Indonesian Military Academy (Akmil).

“High character, one must have high character, be honest, and be sincere; one must not become a corruptor, nor pretend to be high-minded, pretend to be sincere, or pretend to be honest, only to steal once entrusted with an official position,” Prabowo stated during his speech at the 100th-anniversary celebration of Pondok Gontor, East Java, on Saturday (19/09/2026).

He then addressed the second part of the motto, which concerns physical health. He stated that the Indonesian people must grow up healthy and free from hunger.

“I am determined that the children and the people of Indonesia—because that is why I accepted the mandate from the Indonesian people—must not suffer from malnutrition, and no child should go to school hungry. Because of this, I do not want there to be any hungry people in Indonesia; in a fertile Indonesia with such vast wealth, no one should go hungry on Indonesian soil,” he said.

Prabowo then read the third motto, which pertains to broad knowledge. He asserted that Indonesian leaders must be well-informed.

“Broad knowledge, true; Indonesian leaders must be intelligent so they are not deceived or fooled by others,” he remarked.

He noted that there are individuals in Indonesia holding professorial titles who instead defend foreign interests.

“I am surprised that sometimes, despite being professors, they cannot see injustice; professors who instead choose to defend the interests of foreigners,” he concluded.