Jakarta — Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day celebration under President Prabowo Subianto carried a different atmosphere this year. About 60 small business vendors were specially invited, with all their goods purchased by the State Palace to be served to guests—80 percent of whom were members of the public.
Wahyu, a street vendor selling traditional kue apem cakes, could hardly hide his gratitude.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m so happy. I hope I’ll be invited again in the future,” he said with a smile.
A similar joy radiated from an es doger vendor, who stepped inside the State Palace for the first time in his life. Beaming, he exclaimed, “Alhamdulillah, it’s so grand, so festive. I’m really, really happy—beyond words. This is my very first time entering the Palace.”
In a special gesture this year, the Palace invited 60 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to serve 30,000 portions of food and drinks free of charge to the public. Vendors were stationed at three key points: the Palace’s Central Courtyard, the Plaza Fountain (formerly DPA), and the parking area of the Presidential Secretariat.
For many visitors, the chance to experience the State Palace up close was nothing short of extraordinary.
An attendee using the Instagram handle @ijoeel shared his impressions:
“Crazy, the Palace is this open and this fun. Usually, the central courtyard is strictly off-limits for photos or casual entry—even if you work in the Palace area,” he wrote.
He also praised the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) for striking the right balance between safety and hospitality. “Salute to Paspampres for keeping it secure yet comfortable, and to everyone who made this Independence Day celebration so great!” he added.
This year’s commemoration was not only a people’s festival but also a symbol of the Palace’s new openness under President Prabowo—where officials, ordinary citizens, and small street vendors came together in a shared space of unity.
