"I am resolved to be a presidential candidate in 2014 with the aim of making changes so that the Indonesian people can come out of poverty that has kept growing from year to year," he said when asked by ANTARA to confirm his decision.
Probowo, a former army general, was here to install the executive board of Gerindra`s Maluku chapter for 2011-2015 and to meet with party cadres.
"Various vision and mission for changes can be realized if the Gerindra chief patron becomes president," he said.
He said if the Indonesian people and the House of Representatives (DPR) supported him to become president, he would do what was best for the nation and country.
"I wish to become president not for the sake of power or wealth but to revive the struggle of the country`s past national fighters in line with the 1945 Constitution and `Pancasila` state ideology," he said.
Prabowo said he also wished to become president not because he sought appreciation or praise. "I sincerely want to change the country and defend the people," he said.
He also emphasized the importance of implementing populist economy that reflects change as expected by the people.
"Let people judge. It is Gerindra that has so far pioneered the fight against neo-liberalism. So again I reiterate that I will run for president in 2014 so that I can fight poverty, unemployment and other problems facing the country," he said.
Prabowo said the richness of the country had so far been enjoyed only by other nations. "Indonesia is rich while the people are poor. Indonesia`s richness has been enjoyed by other nations," he said.
He said the country`s wealth had gone abroad because of the government`s economic policy.
He said the government had also let other countries to freely market their products in Indonesia and did not protect domestic products. "This is wrong," he said.
He said the government had to change its economic policy to save the country`s wealth. If it continued to defend it the nation would suffer losses and it would create vulnerabilities. "Neo-liberalism is not fit for Indonesia," he said.(*)
(H-YH/HAJM/H-YH)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
