A recent example of this spontaneity was the President's last-minute decision to travel to China for a one-day ceremonial visit to attend the Victory Day Parade after canceling it a few days prior due to a wave of protests in various parts of the country. He left for Beijing after receiving a security guarantee from his top security aides.

Still the trip was widely criticized because it came on the heels of a turmoil, which the President himself had attributed to "treasonous and terrorism interests." The visit's perceived lack of substance raised public concerns about the President's priorities.

Or perhaps there was a big incentive that made Prabowo join the parade. According to his ministers, during his trip President Prabowo received assurances from President Xi Jinping regarding Chinese assistance for two costly projects, namely the US$80 billion Giant Sea Wall and the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train. 

The President must be well aware that Indonesia is now facing a mounting debt resulting from the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project, which was built as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We do not oppose the two projects, but remind the government to conduct a thorough feasibility study, including assessments of financing, environmental impacts and business prospects before realizing them.  

The sea wall is said to protect people and cities along the northern coast of Java from the threat of sea rise and abrasion. It will take 15 to 20 years to build and has been listed among the government’s national strategic projects for 2025-2029. President Prabowo inaugurated a new agency tasked with constructing the sea wall last month.

Environmentalists and urban planners insist that the sea wall will not address the primary cause of coastal flooding in northern Java, which is land subsidence. The overextraction of groundwater by heavy industries is causing the land to sink, and a giant sea wall may only offer temporary relief while creating a "false sense of security" that could lead to even greater development and a worse environmental disaster in the future.

President Prabowo must be careful before greenlighting the megaprojects. He should not commit the same mistake as the tone-deaf House of Representatives lawmakers, whose selfishness and disconnect with their voters sparked last week’s mass protests.

The President should be aware that some, if not many, of his policies have come under public scrutiny. In response to the demonstrations, he has promised to take people’s aspirations into account. Now he only needs to walk the walk.

We therefore suggest that the President consult with his aides, especially the foreign minister, the finance minister and other relevant ministers, before striking a deal with a foreign leader or institution. The recent expression of public disappointment should help the President remember not to simply okay advice from aides who only want to please him.

The President is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23. He will be the third speaker after United States President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Lula da Silva. Next month, on Oct. 26, Prabowo will attend the 47th ASEAN Summit hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as well as separate summits with the regional grouping’s leaders' counterparts, including the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Russia. A few days later, Prabowo is slated to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju on Oct. 31, which will be hosted by new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.

Prabowo’s attendance at the three international events is crucial. He should go, but with much better preparation for the sake of national interests.