Prabowo: I Sleep More Peacefully Now That Rural Children No Longer Get Soaked Going to School

President Prabowo Subianto expressed feeling more at ease as hundreds of bridges in remote areas have begun construction. As a result, he stated, children in villages no longer need to arrive at school soaked.

Prabowo made these remarks whilst inaugurating 218 bridges distributed across all regions of the Republic of Indonesia, including remote areas. These 218 bridges comprised 77 Bailey bridges, 59 Aramco bridges, and 82 pioneer bridges.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your hard work and effort. I now sleep more peacefully because children in remote villages no longer need to cross rivers in dangerous conditions that threaten their safety. Our children in remote areas no longer need to sit in class in wet clothing, nor return home from school with wet clothing,” Prabowo said, as seen on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Monday 9 March 2026.

Prabowo emphasised that bridges in remote areas, whilst not large in size, hold great strategic significance for his government. He described the infrastructure development as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to the interests of the people.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is what it means that, in reality, suspension bridges in remote areas that are only a few metres wide and a few metres long are genuinely strategic for the government I lead. That the interests of the people are what we prioritise above all else,” he stated.

According to him, these bridges serve as important links for rural communities to carry out daily activities, including providing educational access for children. During the occasion, Prabowo also requested the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and regional commanders to convey appreciation to soldiers in the field who have worked hard to build bridges for the community.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Military Commanders, Regional Commanders, District Commanders, Sub-district Commanders, Village Military Liaisons, Brigade Commanders, Battalion Commanders, please convey my gratitude as your president and as your supreme commander. My thanks, my pride, and my respect that I lead an army so deeply devoted to its people, so spirited, so brave and willing to sacrifice everything for the interests of the nation and people we cherish,” he concluded.