Prabowo's Micromanagement Style
President Prabowo Subianto has apologised to his ministerial team for frequently managing even the smallest details. Prabowo described this behaviour as micromanaging or micro management.
The Gerindra Party Chairman discussed the matter during a speech at a business forum in Tokyo, Japan. The forum was attended by Indonesian and Japanese businesspeople, as well as ministers from the Red and White Cabinet.
In his address to the audience, Prabowo stated that he is a manager who always gets directly involved. “My ministers, forgive me for micromanaging too much. I admit I am a manager who is too controlling,” Prabowo said from the podium, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on Monday, 30 March 2026.
Prabowo gave an example of the micromanagement he practises. “I will call my ministers at two in the morning or five in the morning, and I will ask about the price of eggs today,” he said.
Prabowo also admitted that he regrets often calling his subordinates late at night, turning him into a micromanaging figure. This is because, he said, several ministers have fainted in public.
He stated that the exhausted ministers might be due to his excessive control. “Now I feel a bit regretful because some of my ministers have fainted in public and sometimes I receive reports that some of my senior officials are in hospital. Why? Heart problems,” Prabowo said.
An incident involving one of Prabowo’s ministers fainting in public occurred in January 2026. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono fainted during a tribute and farewell ceremony for the late Ferry Irawan, Yoga Naufal, and Andy Dahananto, who were victims of the ATR 42-500 plane crash.
Trenggono collapsed unconscious during the procession of handing over the bodies of the plane crash victims from the families to the state. The tribute and farewell ceremony for the victims was held at the Madidihang AUP Auditorium of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Sunday, 25 January 2026.
A few hours after the incident, via social media, Trenggono reported that he was doing well. “Thank you for the attention and prayers from all the people towards me,” Trenggono said.
He also specifically expressed thanks to President Prabowo. “Who called directly and asked about my condition today,” he said at the time.
According to Trenggono, the doctor stated that he had no serious problems. “I am doing well, alhamdulillah, the doctor’s observation states there is no problem, just fatigue,” he said.
Trenggono stated that his activities were not only physically exhausting but also mentally. In particular, he said, because the large family of the Ministry of Marine Affairs was grieving after several of its staff died in the ATR 42-500 plane crash.
Amid news of the accident, Trenggono said, he was also carrying out state duties to accompany President Prabowo on visits to the UK and Switzerland. Trenggono said he continued to monitor developments in the ATR 42-500 plane crash even while abroad.