Prabowo made the remarks while delivering directions at a limited meeting attended by ten ministers, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, Deputy Governor Fadhlullah, and Aceh Tamiang District Head Armia Pahmi at the Danantara Housing Development site in Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh, on Thursday.
In his address, Prabowo highlighted the tendency of some parties to view government activities from a consistently negative perspective.
He cited criticism often directed at the presence of state officials at disaster sites, which he said is frequently deemed wrong, whether officials choose to come or not.
According to Prabowo, the presence of leaders and officials in disaster-affected areas serves a clear purpose, namely to directly observe conditions on the ground, identify shortcomings and problems, and determine measures that can be expedited to assist affected communities.
By meeting regional leaders directly, he said, the central government can gain a clearer understanding of local needs and conduct immediate verification.
“Officials come, leaders come to see what is lacking, what the problems are, what we can help with, and what we can accelerate. I come to meet the governor, the governor conveys what is needed, there are proposals, and I can know directly and check for myself. That is how it works,” he said.
The President reiterated to leaders, ministers, heads of agencies, and governors that readiness to accept criticism and insults is part of a leader’s obligation.
However, he emphasized that such criticism should not undermine morale, but instead serve as material for self-correction and vigilance in governance.
Prabowo also underlined that the government’s working approach is based on evidence and tangible results.
The presence of officials in the field, he said, is not ceremonial, but intended to observe conditions, record issues, understand situations, and make necessary decisions.
“We are now in the process of proving results. When ministers or officials go to the field, they are not going on leisure trips. They come to observe, record, understand, and make decisions,” he said.
Furthermore, the Head of State stressed that the government’s main focus is to ease and reduce public suffering.
He views criticism and negative comments as reminders, but not as obstacles to the government’s duty to manage the interests of all Indonesians.
“Our task, even though I am not with you every day because I am based in the capital, is to think about how to address these issues and help those on the ground. At the same time, the fate of 280 million Indonesians must still be managed at the national level,” Prabowo concluded.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Primayanti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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