Prabowo: Leaders Who Lie to the People Are Sinful

Karawang, VIVA – President Prabowo Subianto has asserted that a leader who lies to the people is a sinner who betrays the nation’s interests.

He made the remarks at the launch of the Mandatory B50 Biodiesel Programme at the KM 57 Rest Area in Karawang Regency, West Java, on Thursday, while touching on the government’s achievements in realising food self-sufficiency.

“A government that lies to its people commits a sin. A leader who lies to his people commits a sin. A leader who is not loyal to the national interest above all other interests is a traitor,” he said.

According to the President, there are still parties who belittle the importance of food self-sufficiency and accuse the government of not conveying the true situation to the public.

Prabowo stressed that the government must not tell lies to the people, including regarding its claimed achievements in food self-sufficiency, which he said had already been realised.

“Alhamdulillah, we have proven that we are capable of securing and producing food for our people. Alhamdulillah, we have achieved food self-sufficiency. Of a four-year target, we have succeeded in one year. Many parties have belittled the importance of food self-sufficiency,” he said.

The President also said that even before his inauguration, he had emphasised to his core team and advisers the importance of achieving food and energy self-sufficiency, including reducing dependence on imported food and fossil fuels.

Beyond food and energy, Prabowo noted that water availability is one of the key factors determining a nation’s survival.

According to the President, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) continue to carry out water drilling programmes in areas facing water shortages, with around 30,000 drilling points completed so far this year.

“To this day the TNI keeps searching for water, keeps drilling for water in difficult places. The TNI Commander — how many water wells have we drilled this year alone? Already 30,000, and we continue to address problems as they arise,” he said. (Ant)