"Open House" Lebaran 2025, When Prabowo Entertains Residents at the Palace

Dishes of ketupat with rendang, chicken opor, and sambal goreng hati were served on tables covered with white tablecloths. Not only that, there were also Bandung siomay and batagor, Malang bakwan, teppanyaki and Japanese fried rice, bread, coconut ice, avocado es teler, coffee, as well as various packaged beverages.

Approximately one thousand people enjoyed the meal in a giant tent located in the central courtyard between the Merdeka Palace and the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (31/3/2025). Barricades were prepared as President Prabowo Subianto was scheduled to approach the residents and engage in a friendly gathering.

The residents were enthusiastically waiting while eating and drinking. Many residents set foot for the first time in the Palace.

Joko (61) and his companion Armen (42) enthusiastically enjoyed ketupat and chicken curry. Dressed in t-shirts, dark-colored trousers, and sandals, both were delighted to enter the palace despite having waited at the gates of the Presidential Palace Complex on Jalan Majapahit since 6:00 a.m. and missing the opportunity to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer. "This is his (Prabowo's) first time as President; since I was a child—born in Jakarta—this is the first time I’ve set foot in the palace," said Armen, who now resides in Bekasi.

What was your dream last night? You could go to the Palace and meet the President.

Meanwhile, Joko, who works as a foreman for a housing project, attended an open house or home event at the Palace because he had not yet received a ticket to go home to Pinrang, South Sulawesi. While waiting for his schedule to go home around April 5, he also hoped to be able to shake hands with President Prabowo.

Moreover, Joko admitted to being a volunteer for Prabowo in the Presidential Election for three terms. "I have been a volunteer (for Mr. Prabowo) for three terms," Joko said enthusiastically.

Rani (46), who was present with her husband, Ridwan, was no less enthusiastic. She immediately immortalized this moment by making a vlog.

"Every year I know there is an open house but I've never been here. Because I used to be on duty all the time," said Ridwan, who is a member of the military.

Rani was also excited to meet President Prabowo. "What was your dream last night, to be able to go to the Palace and meet the President," she said.

Several residents with disabilities also attended this open house event. Rosida (50), who lives in Lenteng Agung, arrived at the Presidential Palace Complex using a modified three-wheeled motorcycle. Together with her friends with disabilities, she met at the entrance before proceeding to the tent in the central courtyard.

Rosida stated that the Palace complex is quite accessible for residents using wheelchairs. However, she hopes that public facilities will also provide access for people with disabilities. "Currently, there are still many places with stairs," said Rosida, who works daily making and selling various puddings and snacks.

For Aryani Arsyad (55) who uses a prosthetic leg and a stick as a walking aid, the path from the gate on Jalan Majapahit to the central courtyard of the Palace was very tiring. Sweat was seen pouring down his forehead.

"Actually, everyone was very welcome from Paspampres. Very caring. That's what I experienced. But the problem was, it was too far, from the gate to the tent, to the middle yard, especially since I use a cane and have to go up and down stairs. It was difficult to reach, but for the sake of Mr. Prabowo as the President we have always hoped for, the problem was not a problem. But actually we were tired," he said.

Aryani also hopes that in the future, people with disabilities will find it easier to meet the President.

In addition, there were still several online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers present. Bambang (55) from Bogor, Riyanto (49) from West Jakarta, and Triyono (49) from South Jakarta were some of the drivers present at the open house. "We are the first 100 Gojek partners, from the time (using) pagers to old-school cellphones," said Bambang.

Bambang and his friends were happy because this was the first time they had entered the palace. They also wore green jackets, which were the sign of their online motorcycle taxi group.

The first experience of entering the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta was also felt by Sibarani, a young man from Solo who lives in Cempaka Putih. "The first time I entered and saw the shape of the building in the Palace, there was a colonial impression," he said.

According to Sibarani, the inspection when entering the Palace Complex was standard. "Not very strict. Just a normal inspection," he said.

Every now and then Sibarani swept his gaze over the crowd of people under the shelter of a tent where various food and drink menus were served on long tables. A moment later, while in the midst of the many people who came to the Palace, he said that he suddenly remembered his grandfather's story.

"My grandfather used to tell me, during Bung Karno's time, people also gathered when they heard Bung Karno coming. (People) who were in the fields, working, ran to hear Bung Karno give a speech," said Sibarani.

At around 11:00 WIB, President Prabowo met and greeted the public. Previously, since around 09:00 WIB, the President received ministers, ambassadors, and other officials and their families in the credentials room of the Merdeka Palace.

The ministers also introduced their family members and took pictures with the President. Therefore, the process of silaturahmi with hundreds of officials lasted quite a long time.

At the beginning of the event, Vice President Gibran Rakabumingraka was also present with Mrs. Selvi and their two children, Jan Ethes and La Lembah Manah. Also present were the 10th and 12th Vice Presidents Jusuf Kalla with Mrs. Mufidah and the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his family.

Dishes were also served to these officials in the central room of the Merdeka Palace. President Prabowo, accompanied by his son Ragowo Hediprasetyo, better known as Didit, really entertained the guests at the Palace.