Prabowo Refuses to Be Represented at DPRD Chairmen's Retreat, Speaks from the Heart
President Prabowo Subianto delivered material directly at the retreat for DPRD chairmen across Indonesia, held at the Military Academy (Akmil) in Magelang, Central Java, on Saturday afternoon (18/4).
The retreat for DPRD chairmen at both provincial and district/city levels throughout Indonesia was organised by the National Defence Institute (Lemhanas) at Akmil Magelang since mid-week.
Prabowo stated that when invited by Lemhanas to give a speech and material at the DPRD chairmen’s retreat in Akmil Magelang, he insisted on not being represented. In fact, Prabowo continued, his staff had informed him that his attendance could be represented at the national DPRD chairmen’s retreat.
“When I was asked to attend and informed about this event, some of my staff suggested ‘Sir, you can be represented, no need for you to go personally’,” said Prabowo in his speech, which was met with applause from the national DPRD chairmen attending the retreat at Akmil Magelang, quoted from the broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat (Setpres) YouTube channel.
“But after I learned that this is all DPRD chairmen from across Indonesia, I considered it important and appropriate for me to attend in person,” he emphasised, again met with applause from the audience.
Prabowo admitted he wanted to attend personally because the moment allowed him to speak from the heart and straightforwardly.
“As a son of the nation, today I want to speak from the heart. I want to speak plainly; perhaps what I say later might not please everyone, some might feel offended, some might feel sad,” he added, stating that everyone there is a patriot.
Earlier, Prabowo arrived at the Akmil Magelang area around 10:06 WIB. His arrival was welcomed by Lemhanas Governor Ace Hasan Syadzily and Interior Minister Tito Karnavian.
In his speech, Ace stated that the mission of holding the national DPRD chairmen’s retreat from provincial to district/city levels at Akmil is to ensure that the people’s representatives have integrity and statesmanlike character.
“On this occasion, we report that this KPPD has been ongoing for five days, Mr President, from 15 to tomorrow 19 April 2026, at the Tidar Valley of the Military Academy in Magelang. A place where national leaders are forged and trained, attended by 503 DPRD chairmen,” said Ace Hasan.
Ace described Prabowo’s presence at the national DPRD chairmen’s retreat as a pride and honour for Lemhanas. Ace also asked Prabowo to provide guidance to the regional legislative leaders.
According to him, the position of DPRD chairman is key in bridging regional interests with the national agenda.
He explained that during the event, participants have received material on strengthening national values sourced from four basic consensuses: Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
In addition, retreat participants were also invited to refresh their knowledge of the nation’s struggle history, geopolitical developments, national resilience, national vigilance, and national leadership, with speakers from the Indonesian Lemhanas.
Ace also explained that members of the Merah Putih Cabinet in Prabowo’s government contributed material to the retreat. The reason, he said, “To understand, support, and succeed in the great vision of the President’s ideals.”
It was previously reported that several ministers from the Merah Putih Cabinet had arrived at Akmil Magelang, including Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Abdul Mu’ti, Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono, and Head of the National Geospatial Agency Dadan Hindayana.