Prabowo: Pessimistic People Likely Prefer Servience to Foreign Nations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto mocked pessimistic people who doubt the nation's capabilities during a speech at a harvest festival in Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday, April 7, 2025.

"Those who are constantly pessimistic, those who doubt Indonesia’s capabilities, probably prefer to be servient to other nations,” he told a group of farmers. 

“Well, that’s up to them,” the president added.

The Indonesian president said he aimed to be a leader who successfully lowers food prices. He mentioned that Indonesian farmers should prosper and have decent homes like their counterparts abroad. "Decent homes, especially sufficient income. This is what we are fighting for, and God Willing, we will prevail,” he said.

The Gerindra Party boss also mocked the Jakarta elites who failed to recognize the importance of farmers’ duties, mentioning their role as the producers of food materials. “Without food, there wouldn’t be a country to speak of,” he said.

Prabowo said the country has no need for people who are “too smart,” as they tend to produce nothing.

The president attended a rice harvest festival in Randegan Wetan Village, Jati District, this afternoon. The festival is part of simultaneous harvests held in 14 provinces and 157 regencies/cities throughout Indonesia as an effort to strengthen national food security.

Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat Yusuf Permana said that not only is the festival a symbol of a successful planting season, it’s also proof of growing national agricultural productivity.

After the harvest festival, President Prabowo is scheduled to return directly to Jakarta. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya accompanied Prabowo on this visit.

The visit came a day after Prabowo met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia on Sunday night, April 6, 2025.

Editor’s Choice: Prabowo on Trump Tariffs: Indonesia to Negotiate with the US

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Prabowo on Trump Tariffs: Indonesia to Negotiate with the US

3 jam lalu

Prabowo Meets Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to Discuss Trump Tariff Impact on ASEAN

7 jam lalu

Prabowo Meets with 6 Chief Editors and a TV Presenter, Answers Current Issues

1 hari lalu

Prabowo to Meet Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Tonight

1 hari lalu

France and Indonesia Expand Partnership, Aim for Regional Stability

1 hari lalu

Today's Top 3 News: Impeached South Korean President Yoon Apologizes, Indonesia Faces 32% Tariff from U.S.

2 hari lalu

Prabowo Discusses U.S. Tariff Policy with Several ASEAN Leaders

2 hari lalu

Emmanuel Macron and Prabowo Plan Joint Conference on Gaza

2 hari lalu

The Shortcut to Making Laws Through Legislation Body

2 hari lalu

Indonesia's Prabowo Sets Out Three Breakthroughs in Response to U.S. Tariff Hike

3 hari lalu