Jakarta — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reiterated his call for government officials to limit overseas trips, emphasizing a focus on concrete action and results. Prabowo urged his administration to prioritize working on pressing domestic issues over attending seminars and comparative studies abroad.

“There’s no need for excessive seminars or official trips abroad. What more is there to study? You already understand the issues we face, so let’s focus on action,” Prabowo stated at the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) declaration at Indonesia Arena, Gelora Bung Karno, on Saturday (November 2).

Prabowo acknowledged that curbing these activities is challenging, especially for political party leaders. He shared an experience in which members of his own party often requested permission for overseas trips despite his directive to limit foreign travel.

Recalling an incident from several years ago, Prabowo mentioned that five regional council members from Gerindra approached him with a request for a study trip abroad, despite his party’s policy to reduce international travel.

“Some years ago, representatives from several districts came to me—I won’t say which ones, but they were east of Banyuwangi,” Prabowo explained.

“They said, ‘Sir, please, since you’ve imposed restrictions on international travel, we’re asking permission. We’ve never been abroad in our lives,’” Prabowo continued, imitating the request from the regional council members.

Relenting, Prabowo granted them permission but emphasized that this would be their last opportunity.

“Imagine, local Gerindra representatives, many of whom are farmers, had never traveled abroad. So, I said, ‘Alright, this is your one and only chance,’” he shared.

“The problem is that now we must focus our attention on overcoming the difficulties of the people, that’s the problem. So please convince all of our subordinates to reduce going abroad,” he said.

In addition, he asked for people’s permission to go abroad to attend the G20 and APEC forums as an obligation that must be fulfilled to maintain good relations between countries.

“I myself actually, the main obligation is to go to APEC, G20 invited to China, America also invited, for the sake of the people, not Prabowo. (Compared to) traveling abroad, yes, I prefer to be in the country, I prefer to take care of the people but I also have to maintain good relations between countries,” he said. (RR)