Zulhas Claims Government Is Swift in Mitigating Food and Energy Risks Amid Conflict

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Zulkifli Hasan, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said the government is swift to mitigate the risks arising from the escalation of global conflicts, including conflicts in the Middle East. He said this at an iftar gathering of PAN’s Central Executive Board in Jakarta on Friday evening (6 March 2026). ‘Indonesia must be swift to anticipate and mitigate the risks of the escalation of global conflicts. The most crucial tasks are safeguarding the economy, energy resilience, and what I am directly accountable for: national food security. This is not merely about feeding ourselves; it is about the sovereignty of the nation,’ Zulhas said, quoted in a press release, Saturday 7 March 2026. In these circumstances, Indonesia needs leadership that is calm, rational, and capable of making strategic decisions quickly. As the Coordinating Minister for Food Security, he also outlined the government’s achievements and strategic steps toward realising self-sufficiency in food. He stressed that in the face of global uncertainty, Indonesia must not rely on international markets for the basic needs of its people. ‘Farmers must be strong, production must rise, distribution must be efficient. The state must ensure food is available and affordable for all Indonesians. This is the mandate we bear, and we are not taking it lightly in carrying it out,’ he said. He also detailed that the government continues to strengthen domestic production through agricultural intensification, expansion of productive land, strengthening irrigation infrastructure, and modernisation of fishing fleets for capture and farming. Zulhas noted that the fish self-sufficiency programme has become one of the flagship priorities. Indonesia, as the world’s largest maritime nation, must be able to harness its seas to meet the people’s protein needs while also supporting the livelihoods of fishermen and fish farmers. On the other hand, he insisted that Indonesia must continue to speak out loudly for peace so that the conflict does not escalate into a larger war. Furthermore, he said the party he leads will continue to stand with President Prabowo Subianto. ‘PAN will always be with President Prabowo. We are not a party that only appears when the weather is fine. PAN is a loyal, steadfast party, and at the forefront — in the most difficult situations, we stand on the frontline supporting the government’s strategic steps for the benefit of the people and the nation,’ the former MPR chair said.