Speaking at the 27th anniversary commemoration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Wednesday, he asked attendees to delve deeper into Article 33 of the Indonesian Constitution, which regulates the national economy.
“Article 33 Paragraph 1 (dictates) that national economy shall be ‘organized as a joint endeavor based upon the principles of brotherhood,’ not the ‘principle of conglomerates.’ Remember, the principles of brotherhood mean that we must treat our Indonesian compatriots as brothers and sisters,” he explained.
The principles enshrined in Article 33 effectively negate neoliberal economic practices, including “trickle-down economics,” which allows “only some individuals to become super-rich,” Prabowo said, referring to the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few.
“According to the theory, the wealth will eventually trickle down, but it takes a very long time. It takes 200 years to trickle down—by the time we are all dead. It is wrong,” he opined.
Related news: Prabowo discusses Danantara with Ray Dalio, Indonesian tycoons
Prabowo said that despite its simple text, Article 33 holds deeper implications for the realization of security, wealth, and zero poverty and hunger for the people.
He also highlighted the importance of people’s welfare while carrying out democratic practices in Indonesia.
“Democracy is important ... but when the people have no proper housing, are hungry, experience stunted growth, and are unemployed, I believe we have not reached our national goal,” Prabowo said.
He further reminded the people that the Indonesian nation’s purpose, as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution, is to “advance public welfare, educate the life of the nation, and to participate in the establishment of a world order based on freedom, perpetual peace, and social justice.”
Meanwhile, Article 33 of the Indonesian Constitution mandates state control over production sectors that affect the life of the people and natural resources, including land and water, which must be utilized for the optimal welfare of the people.
Paragraph 4 of Article 33 states that Indonesia’s economy is based on the idea of economic democracy.
Related news: Prabowo-Trump trade deal: Exploring Indonesia's economic advantages
Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
