Social Affairs Minister Gus Ipul Praises Police Role in Supporting 'Sekolah Rakyat' Programme

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, attended the ceremony and thanksgiving for the 80th Bhayangkara Day in 2026 at the Nagara Janottama Field, Brimob Training Centre, Korbrimob Polri, in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java. The event, themed ‘80 Years of Service, Police for the Community’, was attended by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, accompanied by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Gus Ipul stated, ‘Happy 80th Bhayangkara Day to the Police Chief and all his ranks. We would like to thank our friends from the police force, one of whom has greatly assisted us in the field alongside the TNI in strengthening the discipline of Sekolah Rakyat students.’ The ceremony began with a performance by troops from seven regiments entering the field and chanting spirited yells. Various regional police units also held yelling competitions to build cohesiveness and creativity among personnel. The event continued with a video screening featuring one of the Sekolah Rakyat students, M. Fikri Ibrahim. The six-year-old boy currently attends the Integrated Sekolah Rakyat 4 in Sumedang. Fikri’s story touched many hearts; his life was unlike that of other children. While others were busy playing, Fikri was forced to scavenge for rubbish, looking for used bottles to resell in order to survive. A video of Fikri searching for items on the streets had even gone viral some time ago. Since entering Sekolah Rakyat, Fikri’s life has changed. He now wears a clean uniform instead of shabby, dirty clothes. He eats more regularly and nutritiously, and enjoys a much better environment through the guidance of teachers and mentors at the school. Fikri is one of many children who have benefited from the Sekolah Rakyat programme initiated by President Prabowo Subianto. His story serves as tangible proof that many children from poor families still need access to education, and that education can be a pathway to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. In his address, President Prabowo Subianto stated that poverty remains a significant challenge within Indonesian society. ‘Our people still suffer from poverty, and this poverty is a direct result of corruption, smuggling, and illegal economic activities,’ Prabowo said. On this occasion, Prabowo stressed that the law must be enforced against such deviations without discrimination, and that the law must be respected and upheld as a protector of society. ‘There must be no abuse of authority, and no one must be immune to the law. I emphasise once again, the weakest people must receive protection, and communities seeking truth and justice must be served,’ he asserted.