Dark Clouds Over Prabowo's Presidency

February 25, 2025 | 03:54 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ‘Dark Indonesia’ demonstrations are a warning for Indonesia to not collapse into destruction.

THE cry ‘Dark Indonesia’ shouted by students is an earnest warning. In the first four months of his administration, with a number of his decisions, Prabowo Subianto seems to be gathering dark clouds in the sky. Before these clouds turn into a major storm, it is only right that students act and issue a warning.

Prabowo has repeatedly made decisions that are hasty, contradictory, and without good planning. Instead of giving rise to optimism, these programs have triggered public protests and sown confusion in the markets. Experimental projects such as limiting sales of 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters were cancelled after public complaints, but this only goes to prove that decisions are being made without proper consideration.

With the free nutritious meal program, it is clear that Prabowo forced the project through by any means necessary, including sacrificing public services and other programs. However, this project is missing its target because it does not differentiate between children from poor families and those from rich families. And neither does the project have any clear indicators apart from the meals placed on tables. Whether these meals are nutritious or if they are actually eaten is another matter. Apart from costing a huge amount, this project is prone to abuses in the supply and distribution chain.

In his excessive ambition in going ahead with the free meal program, Prabowo has completely revised the State Budget. He has cut the funding for ministerial, institutional, and regional government programs by Rp306.69 trillion for reasons including covering the cost of the free meal program. As a result, the key responsibilities of institutions in the center and in the regions of providing public services are threatened with serious disruption.

The students’ demands that Prabowo reexamine the free lunch project and the budget cuts should be conveyed loudly. The negative impacts on public services and the economy will only grow if Prabowo cuts budgets further by Rp750 trillion. These funds are being used to fund the free nutritious meal program, and there will also be a capital injection into the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara), which will manage the assets of state-owned companies totaling almost Rp15 quadrillion without satisfactory supervision. It is here that we see that the budget efficiencies are only a pretext for reducing the budgets of other programs in order for the funds to be reallocated to Prabowo’s favorite projects.

Another threat that has grown over the last four months is the strengthening of militarism. Prabowo has involved the military in many affairs of state, from managing food to controlling forest areas. The number of regional military commands will shortly be increased as development territorial battalions are established in every city. The signs of the military extending into the civilian realm became more apparent after a serving officer was appointed Chief Executive Officer of state logistics company Bulog. Civil supremacy, which places power in the hands of the people, is now at the edge of the abyss.

We need to salute the courage of the students as they call out the signs of the crisis in this Republic. If you do not believe in the students’ warning, just look at the response of the markets to Prabowo’s policies: the value of the rupiah has fallen over the last four months, and the stock prices of state-owned companies have fallen significantly since the establishment of Danantara was announced. Meanwhile, foreign investment funds pour out of the country almost every week.

This recklessness has put Indonesia in a difficult situation. And Prabowo has begun to show his dislike of criticism. In a speech marking the anniversary of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo directed the word ‘ndasmu’—a Javanese insult literally meaning ‘your head’—at those criticizing the way he is running the country. His supporters, from officials to social media influencers, were no less angry in their mocking of the ‘Dark Indonesia’ warning. Meanwhile, there is little point in hoping for anything from the House of Representatives, which is more like a government mouthpiece.

For those of us of sound mind, the student demonstrations are a moral call to prevent the state sliding deeper into the dark. Students and the people must always be ready to take to the streets. Shouts of protest must continue to ring out.

Read the Complete Story in Tempo English Magazine

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