Prabowo Believes in Nutritious Food, Efficiency, Independent Downstreaming for #BrightIndonesia

A strong or survive country is a country that does not depend on other countries. This idea strongly underlies Prabowo's realization of the Free Nutritious Meal program, budget efficiency, and the desire to immediately realize an independent downstream mega project.

While conversing with the editor-in-chief at his residence, Padepokan Garuda Yaksa, Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Saturday (22/2/2025), Prabowo expressed his surprise at the many parties questioning the free nutritious meal program he aims to implement.

He emphasized that many countries have been doing this for a long time. India, one of the countries he mentioned, has been running this program for ten years and has provided free meals to 800 million of its people.

Prabowo also vowed that no Indonesian child would go hungry. "I couldn't bear to meet them. I wanted to cry. But I just held it in," the President said.

When asked about the stalled implementation and whether it involved many ultra-micro, small and medium business partners, Prabowo immediately contacted the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana by telephone with the speaker turned up.

I am determined that in February 2026 Garuda can fly with dozens of planes. Garuda will be champion.

A moment later Dadan's voice was heard. "There are already 71,000 MSME partners who have entered the verification stage," said Dadan on the other end of the phone answering Prabowo.

The phone conversation continued. "So far, we have served 1.6 million. This Monday, it will be 2.5 million," Dadan added. "Wow, that's fast," Prabowo said, appreciating BGN's work.

Prabowo further emphasized that the theory that a country does not have to be able to fully meet its people's food needs independently is wrong. It is proven that when the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, many countries prioritized their own food interests.

Prabowo also showed news about a country that is currently experiencing a rice emergency. Therefore, the prosperity of farmers is very important and needs to be protected by the state.

Prabowo wants to emulate India and Vietnam, which are very strong in agriculture. The country also protects farmers from low price fluctuations. "Don't farmers have the right to live well? I will fight for them," Prabowo said.

Budget efficiency is also carried out to strengthen the independence of the state. According to Prabowo, the state budget that has been spent so far is very much used for unnecessary things, such as the many official trips. Expenditures are only measured based on absorption or output, not its impact.

"We hold many birthday ceremonies. Each ceremony alone costs Rp 5 billion. Imagine how much money is spent? In the future, just podcasts and tumpeng cutting will suffice," said President Prabowo.

Savings have been made in three stages during his administration. The first stage is related to the State Treasury Budget Section, namely the non-ministerial budget of institutions amounting to Rp 300 trillion. The second stage is by combing the budget of ministries/institutions up to unit 9. From the combing, Rp 308 trillion can be obtained and then returned again by Rp 58 trillion.

Then, in the third round, from the BUMN dividends that received Rp 300 trillion and returned Rp 100 trillion as working capital participation. Thus the total budget saved is Rp 750 trillion.

From this budget savings, Prabowo plans to independently finance mega mining downstream projects, starting from bauxite, nickel, coal, which if realized will have added value many times over. Prabowo also showed the industrial trees derived from bauxite, nickel, coal, oil and gas that his team had studied.

"We also invite foreign investors, but I don't want to beg and then only be given promises," Prabowo stressed.

Prabowo said he would also call all Indonesian diaspora who have various skills who are currently in many countries to return home to contribute. At this point, Prabowo actually regretted the #KaburAjaDulu movement.

Prabowo admitted that there are still many problems in this country such as unemployment, high prices and others. Many institutions are also dilapidated. However, all of that must be fixed together.

He also regretted that many elites in this country were dishonest and even corrupt. In fact, Prabowo openly said that there were officials who celebrated birthdays at the office and then gave their wives luxury cars as gifts.

Bureaucrats and officials also play a lot of characters. They appear obedient but behind the scenes they do reprehensible things. "There are Echelon 3 officials who have Land Rovers," said President Prabowo.

There are also many SOEs that need to be fixed. He gave an example of the mismanagement of Garuda Indonesia, which is the pride of Indonesia. "I am determined that in February 2026 Garuda can fly with dozens of planes. Garuda will be a champion," Prabowo promised.

Another promise from Prabowo, he also wants Indonesia to no longer have to import fuel oil. "No more imports through middlemen," he said.

According to Prabowo, the target for himself is very high. If he does not achieve what he targets, do not support him anymore. Prabowo also emphasized that all leaders have shortcomings, but also many good things, starting from Bung Karno to President Joko Widodo. To fix this country, togetherness is needed. "This is not a Gerindra problem. This is a national problem," he said.

Prabowo's team acknowledged that the weak communication issues will be fixed in the future to avoid misinformation and disinformation. In the era of misinformation and disinformation, as predicted by world experts as the biggest global risk, it seems that it should not be underestimated by the Prabowo government.

On the other hand, Prabowo's team needs to open channels and ears to various criticisms directed to avoid just reports from Prabowo Senang (APS). In addition, strict monitoring is also needed for various work programs that have been carried out to ensure that good ideas and goals are not diverted or hijacked by many interests who feel disadvantaged.

The four-hour meeting was not felt. Much had been heard and digested but of course it was not satisfying enough. This is because everything still needs to be explained in more detail in a more detailed technocratic level to ensure that everything can run well and on track.

However, at least from the four-hour meeting, it can be more clearly seen what is the basis of President Prabowo's thinking, partisanship, and commitment, who is currently leading this country to progress. Next, we monitor it in practice.