Jakarta – The 2024 Idul Fitri celebrations were a time of connection for Prabowo Subianto, who utilized the holiday to visit various key figures, including Aburizal Bakrie, on Thursday, April 11th. During these visits, senior journalist Lalu Mara Satriawangsa was present to greet the president-elect.
In a reflective Facebook post titled “The Root of Success is Sincerity,” the chief editor of TVOne shared insights about Prabowo, a figure he has been familiar with since 1998 during Prabowo’s tenure as the commander of the Kopassus special forces. “At that time, he organized a communal fast-breaking event at Kopassus back in January 1998,” he recalled.
Satriawangsa has closely followed Prabowo’s eventful journey through his leadership roles at the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) and the Gerindra Party. He portrayed Prabowo as a figure who has weathered numerous challenges. “The road he has traveled to reach this point was incredibly steep and tortuous,” he observed.
“Since Mr. Prabowo retired from the military, he has been a target of continuous disparagement, slander, and accusations,” Satriawangsa remarked.
However, he highlighted that Prabowo has consistently risen above these challenges without bitterness. “Mr. Prabowo’s resilience is marked by his refusal to harbor grudges. From the outset, he has embraced and valued differing viewpoints. His inclusive approach isn’t new; it has been a longstanding hallmark of his leadership,” he explained.
He also noted the formidable challenges in establishing the Gerindra Party and Prabowo’s persistent engagement in the presidential elections since 2009, a journey marked by relentless criticism and false accusations.
After decades of political struggle, Prabowo, along with Gibran, has now been entrusted with a significant national mandate. “What is truly the secret to Mr. Prabowo’s ability to navigate such formidable trials successfully?” Satriawangsa pondered.
He suggested an answer might lie in the words of Gus Dur, who once described Prabowo as the most sincere participant in electoral politics. “Perhaps Mr. Prabowo’s wholehearted devotion to serving the nation and the state is the key. Indeed, only God knows the ultimate truth,” he mused.
Satriawangsa concluded with a hopeful note for Prabowo’s tenure, expressing his aspiration that Prabowo will effectively bridge the aspirations of the Indonesian people towards achieving the vision of a Golden Indonesia by 2045.
