Prabowo's Stinging Rebuke to SOEs: Working Recklessly, Disregarding the Government

President Prabowo Subianto has issued a sharp criticism of the governance of a number of state-owned enterprises (BUMN).

In his state address at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, 14 August 2026, Prabowo admitted he was baffled that some SOEs were still operating without accountability to the state.

Prabowo initially revealed that the number of SOE entities was far greater than he had expected. From what he originally thought was only around 300–400 companies, it turned out there were more than a thousand entities.

“I thought there were 300 or 400 SOEs, but it turns out there are 1,074. And these SOEs sometimes work carelessly, without responsibility to the nation, to the state, and the government is disregarded. I do not understand how this could have happened,” said Prabowo.

According to Prabowo, this situation needs to be rectified so that state-owned companies truly fulfil their responsibilities to the nation and the state.

Prabowo went so far as to propose the establishment of a special ad hoc court to investigate alleged problems involving SOE boards of directors over the past three decades.

Nevertheless, Prabowo left room for those deemed to have committed wrongdoing to admit their mistakes and reform. He said this option could later be discussed with the House of Representatives (DPR).

“But I will also appear before the assembly, I will appear before the DPR, and I will ask, if necessary, that we also provide an opportunity for a kind of special amnesty for those who repent, those who are aware, those who confess. I leave this to the people’s representatives to decide,” he said.