President Prabowo Urges Cabinet to Focus on Public Welfare and Poverty Alleviation

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has called on his cabinet ministers to prioritize the welfare of the people, emphasizing the need for effective policies to address the nation’s persistent challenges of poverty and hunger. The president made these remarks during the first plenary session of the newly formed Red and White Cabinet at the Presidential Office on Wednesday.

In his address, President Prabowo underscored the importance of ensuring that Indonesia’s independence is truly felt by its citizens, stating, “I have said many times that an independent country must feel independence. Let us not be proud to be a member of the G20 if many of our people are still poor and hungry.”

He instructed ministers, along with the heads of government agencies and institutions, to expedite the implementation of priority programs and develop comprehensive plans to address these pressing issues. He also emphasized the need for swift action in preparing policies that would improve public welfare.

In particular, President Prabowo urged newly appointed ministers and heads of recently established ministries and agencies to focus on building strong, effective teams. “Especially for the new ministers, please consolidate yourself, organize your administration and your team in your respective ministries and agencies as soon as possible,” he said. He highlighted the importance of teamwork in achieving the government’s objectives, noting that “a good team, a team that can work together, will make it easier for us to achieve the targets we have set.”

The Red and White Cabinet, consisting of 48 ministries and government agencies, is the largest in Indonesian history. President Prabowo explained that the expanded cabinet was necessary, given Indonesia’s status as the fourth most populous country in the world, and to address the nation’s evolving needs effectively.

The session marked the beginning of a renewed focus on accelerating Indonesia’s progress toward greater prosperity and reducing the socioeconomic disparities still faced by many citizens.