Prabowo's Ultimatum to Unpatriotic Officials and Scientists: Leave the Ranks

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has given a harsh ultimatum to officials and intellectuals who lack a spirit of patriotism to step down from their positions. “Choose: defend your people or serve others. I will not tolerate those who are unpatriotic. No matter how intelligent you are, if you do not defend your own nation, there is no place for you around me; go find someone else,” said President Prabowo Subianto in his speech during the “groundbreaking” of 13 downstreaming projects in Cilacap, Central Java, via a broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Cabinet Secretariat, in Jakarta on Wednesday. The President stressed that the intelligence of scientists and technocrats should be used for the interests of the people, not for things that harm the Indonesian nation. “Do not use your cleverness to enrich other nations. We do not hate other nations; we do not want our people to remain poor because our money is taken abroad. If you wish to do so, please do. Do not join the government I lead,” said Prabowo. The President called on intellectuals to become “Red and White Professors” who stand to defend the people and do not use their intelligence to cover up corruption and the plundering of state funds. Prabowo also responded to those who are sceptical or intend to leave Indonesia because they consider the national condition no longer ideal to live in. “Some want to flee. Just flee. Flee to there. Maybe some want to flee to Yemen, please do. Where do you want to flee to? Hey, smart people, read the news, look: we are placed as the safest country in the world now,” said the President. According to him, his government only wants to work for the people, so individuals who do not share the same vision are welcome not to join to avoid causing disruption.