Prabowo summons several ministers to Hambalang, what’s going on?

President Prabowo Subianto held a series of meetings with several ministers from the Red and White Cabinet at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (8 March). Secretary to the Cabinet Teddy Indra Wijaya said Prabowo chaired five separate meetings from the afternoon until night.

The round of talks was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto; Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin; Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan; Rector of Universitas Pertahanan Anton Nugroho; and PT Pindad President Director Sigit Santosa.

Teddy said one of the topics discussed was the government’s readiness to face the Eid al-Fitr homecoming flow, which is expected to rise in the near future. “Security readiness and the smooth Eid al-Fitr homecoming ahead of the ten days leading up to Eid al-Fitr,” Teddy said in a statement.

In addition, Teddy noted Prabowo asked for the latest reports on progress in the construction of ten new campuses focused on strengthening science and technology.

There were also discussions on efforts to improve the quality of state universities so they can compete globally and broaden cooperation with world-renowned universities.

Further topics included developments in international geopolitics, particularly dynamics in the Middle East. “The developments in the Middle East are linked to the geopolitical escalation in Indonesia,” he said.

Another topic discussed was the progress of the education programme for Palestinian students studying in Indonesia at Universitas Pertahanan.

Teddy noted that since Prabowo served as Defence Minister, from 2022, he had invited 20-40 Palestinian children to study in Indonesia, and the number has now risen to almost 200 male and female students.