Prabowo's Speech at Gontor: Indonesian Leaders Must Be Intelligent

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that Indonesian leaders must be intelligent and possess broad knowledge. This is essential so that leaders are capable of facing various challenges and are not easily deceived.

“Possessing broad knowledge. That is correct. Indonesian leaders must be smart. Do not be deceived by others. Do not be made to look foolish,” said Prabowo during his address at the thanksgiving reception for the 100th anniversary of the Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School in Ponorogo Regency, East Java, on Saturday (19/09/2026).

Prabowo conveyed this while outlining the values he believes are crucial for the Indonesian generation to possess. He added that the Indonesian generation must also have the courage to recognise their own shortcomings and weaknesses.

According to him, it is not enough for someone to merely possess knowledge; they must also be able to perceive issues correctly. “I am surprised, sometimes professors, yet they cannot see injustice. Professors who instead defend the interests of foreigners,” said Prabavel.

In addition to having broad knowledge, Prabowo stated that the Indonesian generation also needs to possess free thinking. “Think freely. Do not allow yourselves to be brainwashed by those who have no good intentions towards us,” he said.