For most Muslims, Eid al-Fitr marks a day of personal triumph—overcoming desires throughout Ramadan. It is a victory over hunger, thirst, anger, and wrongful deeds. It is a triumph of strengthening prayers, giving charity, and increasing remembrance of God.
The clarity of purpose during Ramadan is key to celebrating victory on Eid al-Fitr. The same principle applies to every aspect of life: learn and practice what is being tested. Woe to those whose preparation does not align with the real test ahead.
With this principle in mind, President Prabowo opened the first plenary cabinet meeting of the Merah Putih Cabinet on October 23, 2024, with a clear direction: The national goals outlined in the 1945 Constitution are to protect all Indonesians, promote general welfare, advance national intelligence, and contribute to global peace and order.
The success or failure of President Prabowo and the Merah Putih Cabinet will be measured by their ability to achieve these four national objectives—not by secondary indicators, let alone the opinions of commentators who create their own metrics to discredit government efforts.
Protecting All Indonesians and the Nation’s Sovereignty
The key indicator is life expectancy at birth, which is influenced by national security from military and non-military threats, food and nutrition availability, housing and sanitation access, healthcare facilities, and public education.
Thus, President Prabowo maintains good diplomatic relations with all parties. His administration conducted a covert operation that successfully rescued 554 Indonesian citizens from human trafficking in Myanmar. Food production is ensured. The MBG program is executed. Three million housing units are being developed. Hospital upgrades, medical training, and free health check-ups are prioritized.
Promoting General Welfare
The key indicator is Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, calculated by dividing total national income by the number of citizens. The World Bank uses this metric to determine whether a country qualifies as a developed nation.
Therefore, President Prabowo is committed to maintaining purchasing power. Measures include ensuring fair trade in the oil sector, establishing Danantara to secure domestic investment, initiating the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, and implementing various economic initiatives to create millions of new jobs.
Advancing National Intelligence
The key indicator is the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) scores in reading, science, and mathematics, which gauge and compare the effectiveness of education systems worldwide.
President Prabowo is spearheading massive investments in education. The administration plans the largest school renovation in national history, establishes Sekolah Rakyat and Sekolah Unggulan, improves teachers’ welfare, provides smart boards, ensures state protection for children using digital devices, and extends the MBG program to all schoolchildren.
Contributing to Global Peace and Order
The key indicator is whether Indonesia engages in wars and whether it takes action when conflicts arise in other nations.
President Prabowo actively participates in summits, advocating for an end to conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, and beyond. He has formulated the Prabowo DMZ Solution for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire agreement. Indonesia has sent humanitarian aid by air and sea to Palestine while firmly maintaining its non-aligned foreign policy stance.
President Prabowo’s Performance: On Track
The primary indicators for the four national goals require time to reflect progress. Therefore, an objective assessment of a government’s success can only be made after several years.
However, one thing is certain: President Prabowo is diligently focusing on the priorities set by Indonesia’s founding fathers.
God willing, his perseverance will translate into increased life expectancy, higher GNI per capita, improved PISA scores, and a stronger Indonesian role in maintaining peace and order.
