Prabowo: The Key to a Successful Nation is the Courage to Acknowledge Difficulties

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that a nation’s success is not determined by its ability to avoid problems. Instead, success is measured by the courage to face and resolve existing difficulties and challenges. In his directive, Prabowo stressed the importance of building a culture that is open to criticism and input. He stated that every obstacle must be faced with a chivalrous attitude, rather than being avoided or covered up. The government, he continued, must have the courage to acknowledge its shortcomings in order to find effective solutions. “Because I believe that difficulties must be faced. We must dare to admit difficulties and work hard to find solutions to those difficulties,” President Prabowo said while closing the National Saresehan of the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention in Jakarta, Sunday (28/6/2026). Speaking before university rectors and academics, the President asserted that every proposal received by the government will be studied in depth. This is part of the government’s commitment to continuously improve state governance. “I have received the list of proposals and questions submitted, and there are quite a few. I promise to pay attention to them one by one,” he stressed. Prabowo believes that superior organisations and nations are those that can honestly recognise their problems. He distilled this view from various inputs received during his leadership, where honesty in identifying deficiencies is the first step towards improvement. In addition to highlighting governance, the President also paid special attention to the education sector. He stressed the importance of maintaining academic freedom on campuses, viewing differences of opinion as normal and even necessary, as long as they aim to produce innovations that benefit the wider community. Prabowo hopes that universities will remain focused on the development of science and technology. He reminded that the entire educational ecosystem, both public and private, is fundamentally supported by the state through various subsidy schemes. “Let campuses be active in science and technology to benefit the people who finance these educational institutions. The private sector plays a very important role, but the private sector also enjoys public funds, from electricity subsidies to fuel. So, brothers and sisters, this is the essence of being a nation,” he concluded.