Prabowo Vows No Selective Prosecution in Corruption Eradication, Likens It to Treating Cancer

President Prabowo Subianto has stressed that the government will not be selective in taking action against various forms of misappropriation. He stated that corrupt practices and irregularities must be firmly eradicated. This was conveyed by Prabowo during a briefing at the Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (20/7/2026). Prabowo acknowledged that the government’s large-scale programmes are not immune to various shortcomings and irregularities, including the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. “Ladies and gentlemen, I think this is very strategic. Of course, such a massive effort will inevitably have many shortcomings. Just like the MBG, there are shortcomings, there are misappropriations, there are irregularities, but we will act immediately, we will fix it immediately, right?” Prabowo said. Prabowo admitted he was saddened that there are still individuals who exploit government programmes for personal gain. Nevertheless, he asserted that legal action will still be taken. “We are sad that there are individuals, there are persons who want to seek wealth from a job or an effort that is so massive, but what can we do. If that is a disease, we must face it with sadness and take action,” he said. Prabowo assured that the government will continue to crack down on irregularities without discriminating against the perpetrators. He likened the handling of corruption to treating cancer. “And we will continue to take action. Once again, I have said many times that we will not be selective. We will not pick and choose. We will not fail to act against irregularities. Of course, we sometimes need wisdom, regarding the timing, the place, and the method,” Prabowo stated. “Because we want to make the body of Indonesia healthy. If someone has cancer, a shortcut could be taken, just amputate the hand, amputate the leg, right? But perhaps with precision, with therapy, with technology, with… we can do it without damaging the body too much. Similarly, I have learned that a country’s economy is just like our body,” he continued. According to Prabowo, the national economy resembles the human body and its health must be maintained. Therefore, corrupt practices and various forms of economic manipulation must be eradicated so they do not damage the foundation of the national economy. “If we take good care of our body, the economy… our body will be healthy. It is the same. If the economic body is well maintained, it will be healthy. But if it is poisoned by mark-ups, by corruption, by fraud, by under-invoicing, by transfer pricing, by various schemes, by collusion between bureaucrats and businesspeople, by banks giving out loans recklessly, it will be damaged, it will be sick. Well, this is what we are fixing,” he said.