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Team denies Prabowo's recent speech critical of Jokowi
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) speaks with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Feb. 19, 2024, during the inauguration ceremony of the National Defense Central Hospital (RSPPN) in Jakarta. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
P
rabowo Subianto’s team on Sunday scrambled to dispel concerns that the president-elect appeared to be critical of the government’s infrastructure drive in a recent fiery speech to young cadets justifying the importance of bolstering defense.
In a Saturday event attended by hundreds of Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police cadets, Prabowo, the incumbent defense minister, emphasized the importance of a strong military and police presence for a nation’s survival.
“Why are we building structures, seaports, airports, high-speed railways, highways, reservoirs, if this country is not intact, not safe, not protected,” Prabowo said in his keynote speech.
“Your entry into the military and police is part of our national goal. We need a very strong army; we need a very strong police force. This is [crucial to] our survival as a nation,” Prabowo added.
Many have interpreted Prabowo’s statement as a jab against the heavy emphasis placed on infrastructure projects during President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration.
But Hasan Nasbi, a member of the so-called Prabowo synchronization team tasked with smoothing the transfer of power to the incoming president from outgoing President Jokowi, clarified that Prabowo was simply giving “directions rather than lamenting” the construction-heavy policies of his predecessor.
Read also: No shame in continuing Jokowi's policies, Prabowo says
