Rabowo Subianto’s team on Sunday tried hard to allay concerns that the president-elect, who recently gave an impassioned speech to young cadets justifying the importance of strengthening defense, appeared to be critical of the government’s infrastructure push.
At an event on Saturday attended by hundreds of Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and national police cadets, Prabowo, the current defence minister, stressed the importance of a strong army and police force for the country’s survival.
“If this country is not intact, safe and protected, then why do we build structures, ports, airports, high-speed rail, highways and reservoirs?” Prabowo said in his keynote speech.
“Enlistment in the military and police is part of our national goals. We need a very strong military. We need a very strong police force. This is [crucial to] “Our survival as a nation is what matters,” Prabowo added.
Many interpreted Prabowo’s comments as a criticism of the emphasis on infrastructure projects under the government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
But Hasan Nasbi, a member of Prabowo’s so-called synchronization team tasked with ensuring a smooth transition of power from outgoing President Jokowi to the new president, clarified that Prabowo was “not lamenting, he was just giving instructions” about his predecessor’s construction-oriented policies.
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