Prabowo Reveals His Leadership Style: Encouraging Competition Between the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto revealed his leadership style, which he calls the “commander’s science,” in managing his subordinates in the government, including the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, and the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

This was conveyed by Prabowo during a speech at the inauguration of the Ibu Marsinah Museum and the Transit House in Nganjuk Regency, East Java, on Saturday (16/5/2026).

Initially, Prabowo expressed his appreciation to the TNI and Polri for their support of several government programs.

“I thank the TNI Commander, and the TNI for their assistance. I also thank the Polri, the police have provided extraordinary support for this process,” said Prabowo, as quoted from the Setpres YouTube broadcast on Saturday.

Prabowo then made a joke by saying that Polri is the institution with the cleanest MBG (Management Body of Governance).

“Perhaps the best one now is the police, the cleanest,” said the President, which was met with laughter from the audience.

Shortly after, Prabowo explained that his praise for both the TNI and Polri was part of his leadership strategy.

“Indeed, the science of leadership is that if you have two subordinates, you have to make them compete,” he said.

“So, if there is a TNI Commander, I praise the police. Then, if there is a National Police Chief, I praise the TNI,” he said.

According to Prabowo, this approach motivates both institutions to show their best performance.

“So, when they come out of my office, they have a competitive look. That’s the commander’s science,” said Prabowo.

He added that a similar strategy is also applied to the ministers in the Merah Putih Cabinet.

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