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Prabowo saved lives by cutting defense budget during pandemic: AHY
Democratic Party chair AHY said he regretted the public's lack of appreciation for Prabowo’s service as defense minister which, according to Agus, saved millions of lives during the pandemic.
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Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (center) speaks during a press briefing at the party headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 11, 2023. Agus on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, said he regretted the public's lack of appreciation for Prabowo Subianto’s service as the defense minister which, according to him, saved millions of lives during the pandemic by agreeing to budget cuts. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) said he regretted the lack of appreciation from the public toward defense minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.
According to Agus, the defense minister had agreed to a significant budget cut during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2022, with the allocation diverted toward healthcare and pandemic management.
"Many are not aware and do not appreciate Prabowo's service as defense minister after he allocated a significant amount of the defense budget to save millions of Indonesian people’s lives during the pandemic," Agus said in Yogyakarta on Thursday, as quoted by tempo.co.
During the pandemic, most ministries and regional administrations had their budgets reallocated in an activity dubbed “budget refocusing” by the government.
Funds from the budget refocusing were used to tackle the epidemic, provide social safety nets for the poor and provide stimulus for businesses.
Agus added that during the pandemic, Prabowo had mobilized Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel and assets to treat COVID-19 patients in isolation.
These measures, Agus claimed, required sincerity and generosity, saying that they reflected Prabowo’s quality as a statesman.
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