Prabowo: Sometimes We Cannot Protect Our Nature

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto touched on Indonesia’s shortcomings in protecting and managing its natural environment.

Despite viewing Indonesia as a nation endowed with abundant natural resources compared to others, he stated: “Because sometimes, we ourselves cannot protect our nature. We clear our forests, we fell the trees on our mountains, as a result, water cannot be retained, leading to droughts,” Prabowo said during a briefing at a working meeting with members of the Merah Putih Cabinet at the Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

He recounted that if rain falls in Bogor for one day, it equals the water that falls in Western Australia over an entire year.

“One day’s rainfall in Bogor equals one year’s rainfall in Western Australia. Such is the blessing we receive from the Almighty,” Prabowo said.

However, Prabowo acknowledged that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing water shortages.

“We can overcome it, because the water is there; it’s just a matter of whether we can obtain it and protect it,” Prabowo stated.

In the briefing, Prabowo also mentioned that his administration has achieved several milestones.

“It cannot be denied that we have reached tangible milestones, real achievements,” Prabowo said.

Conflicts and wars occurring globally, he added, have caused shocks to stability in various countries.

“Alhamdulillah, our government, of which you are all part, the government I lead. After one and a half years, alhamdulillah, we have been able to control the direction of development, the direction of our nation’s state,” Prabowo said.