Prabowo: If a Labourer's Child Graduates from IPDN, Who Knows, They Might Become a Great Leader

President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the success of the ten best graduates of the Institute of Internal Government Administration (IPDN), Class XXXIII of 2026, all of whom come from modest families, is proof that the meritocratic system in Indonesia is functioning.

According to him, parents’ economic background or occupation is no longer a barrier for the nation’s sons and daughters to achieve success and serve the state.

Prabowo made the remarks while inaugurating 1,204 graduates of the Applied Bachelor of Government Science programme at IPDN, Class XXXIII of 2026, as junior civil administrators at the Parade Ground of the IPDN campus in Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.

In his speech, Prabowo revealed that before taking the podium, he had received a report from the Minister of Home Affairs regarding the backgrounds of this year’s best IPDN graduates.

“Before I went up to the podium, I received a report from the Minister of Home Affairs: ‘Mr President, the ten best graduates of this class all come from very modest families.’ As was conveyed to me, some are children of labourers, some are farmers’ children, some are children of non-commissioned military officers. Yes, from the TNI, children of enlisted personnel,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo considered the achievement to be a concrete illustration that the state is able to provide equal opportunities for all children of the nation to excel, unimpeded by social status or family economic circumstances.

“This proves that the NKRI has succeeded. If the child of a day labourer can graduate and become a civil administrator, who knows—one day they may become great leaders. This is proof that the NKRI has succeeded, that Pancasila is right,” said Prabowo.

According to the President, Indonesia must continue to build a system that gives room to the best individuals to step forward and lead based on ability, integrity, and achievement. For that reason, the selection process for state officials must be carried out objectively and uphold the principle of meritocracy.

Prabowo said the success of the IPDN selection organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs shows that a fair recruitment mechanism can produce quality government officials from all layers of society.

He affirmed that the government wants every one of Indonesia’s finest sons and daughters to have an equal opportunity to serve the nation, unaffected by their parents’ background or their family’s economic circumstances.