Jakarta — In his first national address after being sworn in as the 8th President of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 term, Prabowo Subianto reminded government officials that a significant portion of the Indonesian population remains underprivileged.

Speaking before visiting heads of state, government officials, and legislative members at the MPR/DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, Prabowo stressed that the primary goal of his administration is the welfare of the Indonesian people.

“There are still far too many of our fellow citizens living below the poverty line, far too many children going to school without breakfast, and far too many children without proper clothing to attend school,” Prabowo declared during the parliamentary session on Sunday (October 20).

He acknowledged Indonesia’s achievements, particularly its inclusion in the G20 — a prestigious international forum of the world’s largest economies, with Indonesia ranking as the 16th largest economy globally. However, he urged officials to take a more profound and comprehensive view of the nation’s condition.

“We take pride in being part of the G20, and we are proud to be the 16th largest economy in the world, but do we truly understand and see the full picture of our situation?” Prabowo asked.

He also reminded leaders that their duty is to serve the people, not their personal interests or those of their inner circles.

“We hold power by the will of the people. Leaders must remember that we work for the people, not for ourselves, not for our families, not for our leaders. The leaders must work for the people,” he asserted.

Prabowo emphasized that officials in his government must be willing to confront the nation’s challenges and commit to solving them.

“I urge all of us to have the courage to face reality. We can be proud of our achievements, but let’s not be quick to feel content and blind ourselves to the suffering of our fellow citizens,” Prabowo said.

“Let us not be like ostriches, burying our heads in the sand when faced with unpleasant truths,” he added.

The president also reminded the nation of its courageous history, particularly the sacrifices made by ordinary Indonesians during the struggle for independence.

“We must remember that our independence was not a gift. It came through great sacrifice, and the largest sacrifice came from the poorest among us — the ‘wong cilik,’ the common people, who fought and fed our fighters,” Prabowo recalled.

“Our troops were not paid. Who fed them? It was the farmers in the villages, the fishermen, and the laborers — they were the ones who built the Republic of Indonesia,” Prabowo concluded. (RR)