Surya Paloh on Prabowo's Speech: Better to Be Optimistic Than Skeptical

NasDem Party Chairman Surya Paloh assessed that President Prabowo Subianto’s speech at the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD fostered optimism. Paloh hopes that the plans committed to by the government will be realised effectively.

“One thing is certain, the President is building optimism among all of us as citizens of this nation. Hopefully, the President’s optimism can proceed as we all hope,” said Surya Paloh at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday.

Paloh believes Prabowo has shown commitment to the government’s priority programmes. He is confident that the problems facing the nation will be overcome.

“What the President believes can be applied and realised on the ground. That is our hope,” he stated.

“The President has built this optimism, that whatever the problem, we seem capable of facing it. That is one thing we need to underline,” he added.

Furthermore, Paloh mentioned that it is better to be optimistic about the nation’s challenges than to be sceptical. He also expressed his desire for all government programmes to run smoothly.

“In my view, that is good, because in any case, it is better to be optimistic than pessimistic or sceptical. But what we hope is that this optimism can be realised on the ground,” said Paloh.

“It should not become something that might require corrections later, meaning the realisation is not as expected,” he added.

President Prabowo Subianto had earlier stated that Indonesia’s development is a long struggle carried out continuously from one administration to the next. Prabowo said he would continue the development efforts of previous presidents.

“As I have said many times, development is a long march, a long struggle,” Prabowo said in his speech.

“What we can do now, we improve, we enhance, we add to, but it was pioneered by the presidents and leaders before me,” he continued.

Prabowo explained that a number of social protection programmes were initiated during the administrations of the 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the 7th President Joko Widodo.

“Many social protection programmes were pioneered by President SBY and President Jokowi. I am continuing what they started,” he said.