Prabowo: There Are Groups in Society That Do Not Want to Cooperate

President Prabowo Subianto has spotlighted groups in Indonesian society that he views as unwilling to cooperate. He likened them to individuals who refuse to join communal efforts to build a bridge in a village.

Prabowo expressed this view during a speech at a working meeting with ministry officials, agencies, and state-owned enterprises at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 April 2026. According to Prabowo, the presence of such uncooperative parties in the country is a phenomenon felt by all.

“There is one phenomenon that we all feel, that there are groups in society, our brothers and sisters, our fellow citizens, part of the greater NKRI family, who have an attitude that can be said to be very unwilling to cooperate,” Prabowo stated from the podium.

Prabowo said he respects the stance of these groups. “We have no problem with that,” said the Chairman of the Gerindra Party.

Prabowo likened this phenomenon to the construction of a bridge in a village. He described it as a situation where villagers see the need for a bridge, but a group of people refuses to participate in building it. Prabowo stated he has no issue with such a condition. “Those who want to build the bridge, let’s build it. Those who don’t want to join in building the bridge, no problem. Please sit back, watch, or whatever, you can criticise, that’s fine,” he said.

Nevertheless, Prabowo remains puzzled by people who criticise the bridge’s construction without participating, especially when the criticism is delivered with harsh words. “You idiot. The wood is wrong, don’t put it there. The nails are wrong, they should be here. The chain is wrong,” Prabowo exemplified the critics’ remarks.

Prabowo believes that constant criticism will not lead to the bridge’s completion. Therefore, he feels that those who want to participate in building the bridge should not feel intimidated.

Prabowo also responded to criticisms using coarse language. “Yes, I’m an idiot, but the villagers asked for a bridge, I’m building a bridge for our people,” he said.

Prabowo stated that this phenomenon is not new nor unique to Indonesia. According to him, it has existed for hundreds of years since colonial times, where some compatriots facilitated the occupation. “Those are our brothers too. So this is not a new phenomenon. It’s normal. Seeds of envy, jealousy, spite, that’s part of human nature. Hatred, grudges, resentment,” he said.

As of this report, President Prabowo was still speaking from the podium to his aides. For this working meeting, Prabowo invited all officials at the ministerial and deputy ministerial levels, heads and deputy heads of agencies, up to echelon one officials. Hundreds of these officials arrived at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday afternoon.

The day before this Wednesday briefing, Prabowo invited several ministers and agency heads to the Palace. On Tuesday, 7 April 2026, some of the officials seen attending included Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto; Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa; Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono; Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman; and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto.

There were also the Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Regulatory Agency (BP BUMN) Dony Oskaria up to Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo.

Following the Tuesday meeting, Coordinating Minister Airlangga revealed that he discussed the economic sector with Prabowo. According to Airlangga, the results of that meeting would be discussed at the grand working meeting with all ministers up to echelon one on Wednesday. “Tomorrow, it’s requested to be presented,” Airlangga said after the Tuesday meeting.