Residents Along Senen Railway Tracks Moved by Prabowo's Visit: This Is the First Time a President Has Come

President Prabowo Subianto’s impromptu visit was met with enthusiasm by residents of the settlement along the railway tracks in the Senen area, Central Jakarta. The residents were moved and rushed to approach Prabowo just to see him up close and shake his hand.

That sense of emotion was expressed by a woman living in the area named Seger. She revealed that throughout her life residing in the area, this was the first time a president had come directly to greet the residents and listen to the people’s aspirations.

“I’m so happy. All my life since I was little living here, no president has ever come here. So when he came here, I felt so happy. Sir has given me sustenance,” said Seger, quoted from the Government Communication Agency’s statement on Thursday (26/3/2026).

She appreciated Prabowo’s step to build decent housing for her settlement area. She said that economic limitations made it difficult for her to rent a more decent place to live.

“Well, maybe for me who’s been living here a long time, if there’s going to be something like apartments, I’d want that, Sir. Maybe I won’t live by the tracks anymore,” she said.

“Because my livelihood is busking. So for rent, I can’t afford it, my income is just enough. If for rent, I can’t pay, I’ll be evicted by the landlord. So I live here, I hold on,” she continued.

Another resident, Nur Hanifah, admitted to being moved to meet Prabowo directly. She even left her cooking activity in the kitchen to go out of the house and shake hands with Prabowo.

“I was cooking in the kitchen earlier, so I rushed out, there’s the President, Mr President. Wow, my father, handsome father, when I came out I kissed his hand,” she said.

On that occasion, Nur Hanifah also conveyed her hope to Prabowo that government assistance would continue.

In the same vein, another resident, Yana, also hoped that social assistance programmes like the Family Hope Programme (PKH) would continue, as well as support for children such as the free nutritious meal programme (MBG) would still be provided.

“MBG, basically so that schoolchildren can keep going like this, because most people here are below the line, you know. Let it continue, and for housewives like me, it’s for the schoolchildren,” said Yana.

A touching story also came from Wawan, a clown busker. He did not expect his area to be visited by the president.

“I’m moved, almost cried hearing it. This is the first time someone has come here, it feels happy in the heart,” said Wawan.

Meanwhile, another resident who works as a scavenger, Cono, admitted to having chatted directly with Prabowo. Cono also conveyed his hopes regarding the limited housing he and the surrounding residents experienced.

“Mr Prabowo said, would you like apartments to be built? I said yes, sir, because I don’t have much place to live. This is what’s available,” he said.

Prabowo’s visit took place on Thursday (26/3) afternoon. Prabowo said he was making the impromptu visit to hear the residents’ aspirations. He promised to soon build decent housing for the local residents.

“Hearing the aspirations of the community there, God willing, we will soon build decent housing for the community in that area quickly,” Prabowo wrote in a statement on his Instagram account.