Prabowo: President Jokowi Doesn't Hesitate To Take Action, I Will Also Eliminate Mark Up In The Defense Industry

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at The 1st DEFEND ID's Day at the PT Dirgantara Indonesia Hangar, Bandung, Thursday (15/6/2023). (ANTARA/Fath Putra Mulya)

BANDUNG - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto said he did not hesitate to abolish the culture of corruption in the defense industry sector in the form of mark-up culture, lies, and cheats.

"Our President, Pak Jokowi, has no doubts about his actions, and I also do not hesitate to act. Culturemark ups that are too extraordinary, culture is fake and deceptive, we must eliminate them from our defense industry," Prabowo said at The 1st DEFEND ID's Day event at the PT Dirgantara Indonesia Hangar, Bandung, reported by ANTAAR, Thursday, June 15.

Prabowo said Indonesia needs to be grateful because inflation in the country is one of the lowest among other countries in the midst of the current world crisis.

"We are grateful that during the world crisis, the crisis due to COVID-19, the terrible Ukraine war, the price of important goods rose, energy prices rose, fertilizer prices rose, food prices rose, we are grateful that Indonesia's inflation is one of the lowest in the world," he said.

According to him, this achievement is not a trivial achievement because inflation is a scourge for all countries in the world. He said the strategy implemented by the Indonesian government was on the right track.

"The inflation agency is more than 100 percent, Turkey 85 percent, many of our neighboring countries have collapsed economies. Some countries in our region can no longer pay salaries, the money runs out, the production doesn't exist," said Prabowo.

However, Prabowo assessed that there are still many shortcomings that need to be overcome in Indonesia, ranging from a culture of waste to corruption.

"We understand that together there are still many things happening in our country, bad cultures, culture of waste, leakage, corruption, various cultures, every Indonesian leader will face this challenge and we must overcome it as well as possible," said the Minister of Defense.

Prabowo said the defense industry is vital for national independence and sovereignty because Indonesia is a large and resource-rich country.

"The defense industry is a vital part, a decisive part of our independence, our sovereignty," he said.

Prabowo said that with this wealth, Indonesia must not be careless about the potential dangers posed. He said Indonesia's defense strength is absolute because he assesses that competition between nations today is getting tougher.