Singapore — The arrival of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to attend Singapore’s National Day celebrations on Saturday (Aug. 9) left a deep impression on Indonesian students currently studying in the Lion City.

They said meeting President Prabowo made them feel closer to their homeland, as if they were back home in Indonesia.

Belinda, Donata, Daniel, and Ardi—four students from the Singapore Institute of Management—were among those who had the chance to interact directly with the President.

For them, the moment was more than just a casual encounter; it became a heartfelt reminder of their national identity. Meeting the leader of their country while abroad, they said, brought a sense of home to foreign soil.

“This is such a memorable experience—it made me feel so much closer to home, especially in the context of Singapore’s National Day Parade and meeting Pak Prabowo,” said Belinda.

She and her fellow students expressed gratitude for being able to meet and shake hands with both President Prabowo and members of the Kabinet Merah Putih who were present.

“It’s truly a memorable moment here,” she said.

“I’m really happy to have the chance to meet Pak Prabowo again. I met him before, but never this closely,” Donata shared.

“This is such a rare opportunity to meet the President in person—especially as this is the first time in my life I’ve ever met a President,” added another student.