Key Points From Prabowo's Speech at DPR Plenary Session

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended the plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. On this occasion, he presented the macroeconomic framework and the main points of fiscal policy.

Accompanied by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Prabowo was joined by several ministers and heads of agencies from the Red and White Cabinet at the parliamentary complex. Prabowo became the first president to present the macroeconomic framework and the main points of fiscal policy before the legislative body.

According to Prabowo, the current global economic situation is turbulent. He highlighted the conflicts in the Middle East, which despite being far away, still affect the national economy.

"Therefore, because of the situation we are facing, I believe that the President of the Republic of Indonesia must be present to directly convey the essence of economic thought and state management," he said in his address on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

Here, Tempo summarizes several points that Prabowo conveyed in his speech at the DPR plenary session:

1. Prabowo Criticizes 'Green-Brown' Backing for Law Violators

President Prabowo Subianto mentioned the tendency of Indonesian authorities to often protect law violators. He stated that there are officers in green and brown uniforms who provide backing for those who seize state resources.

"Usually, they have someone backing them. Their backers usually wear uniforms that are either green or brown," he said.

The former Minister of Defense stated that he does not want protection for corrupt individuals to be continually shielded by rogue elements within the authorities. He promised not to hesitate to take action against these rogue officers.

The Chairman of the Gerindra Party emphasized that soldiers and police officers should not tarnish the image of the state's defense and security institutions. "Do not tarnish the TNI-Polri. The TNI-Polri belongs to the people and must strive for the people," said Prabowo.

He stated that the Indonesian people are not foolish. According to Prabowo, the public can discern if there are officers aiding in legal violations.

Prabowo also approved of the public documenting the improper behavior of officers and reporting it to the President. "If there is misconduct by officers, I ask the public to shoot video footage," he said.

2. Prabowo Aims for Indonesia to Produce Vehicles and Devices

President Prabowo Subianto expressed his desire for Indonesia to be able to independently produce vehicles and electronic devices. He believed that the country must embark on industrialization in both areas.

"We must industrialize; we must make our own cars, our own motorcycles, our own televisions, computers, and mobile phones," he said.

Prabowo mentioned that this industrialization would be accelerated through the Danantara Investment Management Agency. According to him, this institution can expedite development financing.

He also stated that Danantara could inject working capital to accelerate domestic industrialization. As a result, he hoped that the national industry could manufacture cars, motorcycles, and even televisions.

Prabowo mentioned that he had gathered experts and professionals to realize the country's dream of independently producing vehicles and electronic devices. The retired army general requested their dedication to Indonesia.

"I have already gathered professors. I have gathered experts. I told them, your dedication to the nation is needed to realize this. We must not give up, we must not feel inferior about this," he said.

3. Prabowo Will Use Bunker-Seeking Technology to Trace Corruptors

President Prabowo Subianto stated that he will utilize technology to search for the assets of corruptors hidden in bunkers. He believed that advanced technology could easily locate the stored assets of corrupt individuals underground.

"Now there is technology, there is radar that we can use, we can see underground. So, those who have bunkers hidden, we will find your wealth," he said.

Prabowo mentioned that current technology is also capable of detecting large areas of land. "Those who have vast plantations, they think nobody can check. Now, there are satellites; without the need for physical checks, we can photograph every tree," he explained.

With this technology, Prabowo was confident that they could discover the assets hidden by corruptors underground. "So, no matter how you try to deceive, we will discover your deception," he said.

4. Prabowo: Export Fraud Causes Low Salaries for Teachers and Civil Servants

President Prabowo Subianto revealed the factors contributing to the low salaries of teachers, law enforcement, and civil servants. He stated that this was partly due to fraudulent practices in foreign trade.

According to Prabowo, Indonesia has never actually incurred losses in exports and imports. However, not all profits from exports are recorded in the state revenue.

Prabowo mentioned fraudulent under-invoicing, under-accounting, transfer pricing, and smuggling as loopholes that hinder the optimization of state revenue from exports. He stated that these dishonest practices have been ongoing for more than three decades.

"For 34 years, what has happened? What has happened is what is called under-invoicing. Under-invoicing is actually fraud or deception," he stated.

Under-invoicing is the practice of reporting export values below the actual prices. This method is often used to avoid taxes, smuggling, and money laundering. According to him, this practice applies to various commodities, including palm oil.

Prabowo claimed that under-invoicing had cost the country US$908 billion over the last 34 years, according to data from UN Comtrade 2025 processed by the NEXT Indonesia Institute.

Therefore, Prabowo suggested that the country must bravely overhaul the monitoring system comprehensively, especially in the customs sector. "We must dare to speak the truth; we must improve government institutions," he said.

5. Prabowo Orders Bureaucrats Not to Take Many Initiatives

President Prabowo Subianto requested that bureaucrats refrain from acting arbitrarily under his government's regime. He instructed them not to take too many initiatives beyond his and his ministers' directions.

He believed that such a situation would create problems when the government's leaders have already established a policy, yet additional rules emerge at lower levels. He viewed such initiatives as a form of disorderly bureaucracy.

Prabowo suspected that bureaucrats acting independently might do so for blackmailing and disrupting entrepreneurs seeking permits in Indonesia. Consequently, he said, the permit process in the country has become slow.

Furthermore, he referred to certain disobedient bureaucrats as elements of a deep state or a state within a state. According to Prabowo, they feel immune because they can remain within the bureaucracy despite changes in the president and ministers through general elections.

Prabowo instructed the ministers to be vigilant against their bureaucrats. "I remind all the ministers, discipline your bureaucracies below! Beware of these bureaucrats, because they have long experience," Prabowo said.

Sultan Abdurrahman contributed to the writing of this article.

Read: Prabowo Orders Customs Chief Replacement if Problems Persist

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