Jakarta – Minister of Defense and Presidential Candidate from the Coalition of Indonesia Maju, Prabowo Subianto, emphasized the importance of equitable welfare in Indonesia in his speech at the Muhammadiyah Public Dialogue at the Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (24/11/2023). Prabowo conveyed his vision of social and economic justice as the foundation of a free and prosperous country.
In the dialogue, Prabowo expressed his concern about the current social conditions, highlighting the life of a 70-year-old man who still works as a pedicab driver, which he previously mentioned during a question and answer session with the Japanese Ambassador at a forum.
“And I told (the Japanese Ambassador) that I saw with my own eyes, there was a 70-year-old man still pedaling a pedicab, I asked ‘do you know what the becak is?’ 70 years old pedaling a pedicab, extraordinary, I wanted to cry,” said Prabowo.
Prabowo, a former general, expressed his embarrassment to the Japanese Ambassador when discussing global trade, stating that such a situation should not happen in Indonesia, which has been independent for decades.
“In a country that has been independent for so many years, our people should not have to pedal a pedicab at the age of 70, it’s not right. It’s embarrassing, it’s embarrassing. As a former general, I’m embarrassed. I conveyed it to the Japanese Ambassador,” said Prabowo.
Quoting his experience in a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador, Prabowo highlighted the need for a fair level playing field among countries in global trade. He emphasized the importance of downstream policies, aimed at producing raw materials in Indonesia, as a strategic step to create jobs and improve the welfare of the people.
Prabowo expressed his commitment to improving the welfare of the Indonesian people if he is elected as the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia. By emphasizing the importance of not selling natural resources at low prices, he hopes to advance the national economy and elevate the status and welfare of the Indonesian people.
The message of social and economic justice conveyed by Prabowo in the Muhammadiyah Public Dialogue shows his deep understanding of the challenges faced by Indonesia at present and his vision for a better and fairer future for all the people of Indonesia. (SENOPATI)