Solo — President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, delivered a firm message on the kind of leadership required to confront the enemies of the state—including corrupt officials, swindlers, and traitors. A true leader, he said, must be steadfast—but also capable of “erupting” when the moment demands action.
Speaking before members of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) on Sunday (July 20), Prabowo emphasized that while patience and strength are essential virtues, a leader must not hesitate to act decisively in the face of injustice and betrayal.
“Pindo Arga—like a mountain. Steadfast. Principled. Unshakable. And once in a while, a mountain must erupt. A leader needs to erupt from time to time. Especially when facing corrupt officials and thieves—we have the right to erupt. Remain strong, stay composed—but at the right time, take forceful action to purge the nation of threats and filth,” he declared.
This statement was part of Prabowo’s broader reflection on eight ancestral virtues of leadership, rooted in ancient Indonesian philosophy. Pindo Arga, or “the mountain,” represents unwavering resolve—but also the power to cleanse through decisive force.
He continued by highlighting another virtue: Pindo Dahana, or “the fire,” which he described as a leader’s duty to ignite public spirit and to burn away all forms of evil.
“Pindo Dahana—like fire. It fuels the spirit. But it also burns away corruption. It burns injustice. It burns betrayal. It burns all that is wrong,” he said.
Prabowo warned that Indonesia must never go soft on those who erode public trust and sabotage the nation’s future. Leaders, he said, must serve as moral catalysts and agents of action, capable of defending the republic against internal decay.
“These are teachings from our ancestors—wisdom that has endured for thousands of years,” Prabowo asserted.
He urged a revival of these timeless values in navigating modern challenges, asserting that Indonesia’s traditional philosophy offers enduring guidance for leadership in the 21st century.
