Residents' Tears Welcome Prabowo in Surprise Visit to Senen

The presence of President Prabowo Subianto in the densely populated settlement of Kramat Ward, Senen, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (26/3), took place without prior notice. Amid the residents’ usual activities, the arrival of Indonesia’s number one figure suddenly transformed the atmosphere into one filled with emotion and enthusiasm.

Residents, who initially had no idea what was happening, immediately gathered when Prabowo stepped out of his vehicle and greeted them. The narrow alleys, usually quiet, were suddenly filled with locals eager to catch a glimpse, shake hands, and voice their complaints.

Nur Hanifah, one of the residents, admitted she was surprised and deeply moved. She even left her cooking to welcome the President. “I was cooking in the kitchen earlier, so I rushed out—there’s the President, the President. Wow, my father, handsome father, when I came out I kissed his hand,” she said, as quoted from a press release by the Press, Media, and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (27/3).

Amid the euphoria, residents also expressed their hopes. Yana, a local housewife, hoped that social assistance programmes would continue, especially for children from low-income families.

“MBG, basically so that schoolchildren can keep going like this, because most people here are below the line, right? Let it continue like that. Even as a housewife, it’s for the children’s schooling,” she said.

A similar story came from Wawan, a clown busker who admitted he nearly cried upon seeing the President in his neighbourhood. “I’m moved, almost cried hearing that. It’s the first time someone’s come here like this, it feels joyful in the heart,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cono, a scavenger living in the area, had a direct conversation with Prabowo. He described the encounter as spontaneous. “Yeah, surprised, spontaneity, right,” he said. During the opportunity, he also shared his housing difficulties.

According to Cono, the President even offered a housing solution. “Mr Prabowo said, would you like me to build you a flat? I said yes, sir, because I don’t have much place to live. Indeed, this is it,” he stated.