As Indonesia commemorates its 80th anniversary of its proclamation of independence, many expectations have been expressed for President Prabowo Subianto, including those from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GREAT Institute, Dr. Syahganda Nainggolan, MT. He believes that as a leader, Prabowo must break free from the shadow and influence of previous leaders.

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This hope is not without reason. To realize his goals, Prabowo Subianto must be free from the shadow of the previous ruler. The goals he outlined in his book, Paradoks Indonesia, are difficult to achieve if there is still interference from those close to or part of the previous leader.

Therefore, said Syahganda Nainggolan, Prabowo must make a radical choice. "We hope that under Prabowo's leadership, Indonesia can emerge from various problems. We must emerge from the shadow of the past. Otherwise, we cannot move forward," Syahganda emphasized.

It will certainly not be easy for Prabowo Subianto to truly escape Jokowi's shadow. This is because many elements or parts of Jokowi are still involved in Prabowo's current leadership. The most obvious is the presence of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is currently Vice President. Not to mention the numerous ministers in the cabinet who are still classified as "Jokowi's men."

However, efforts to escape the shadow of the past are not without efforts. Granting abolition to Tom Lembong and amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto is seen as Prabowo's move to emerge from Jokowi's shadow.

"That's the president's political right, just like clemency and rehabilitation. These two individuals, one the Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and the other Anies Baswedan's right-hand man, both of whom ran against Prabowo in the election, don't want any lingering residue from the presidential election. He doesn't want anyone to become a victim of politicization. Many people believe this is a directive to the previous president," Syahganda Nainggolan told Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto during their visit to the VOI office on August 15, 2025.

In your opinion, is the Indonesian nation truly independent today?

When our proclaimer proclaimed Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, we were already on the threshold of independence. But it turned out to be a long one. To this day, I believe we are still in the same position. The colonial structures that have existed since the colonial era still exist.

For example, the case in Pati caused public unrest. When the central government reduced regional budgets, the regional head and the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) decided to raise taxes significantly. The people were not happy because the economic situation was difficult. So, independence is still far from what we hoped for.

So, what needs to be fixed? What suggestions do you have for the government?

Many people still focus solely on structure, neglecting to include culture. This culture, for example, is reflected in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution concerning political economy. When President Prabowo initiated the Red and White Village Cooperative program, he also based it on Article 33, which stipulates that the Indonesian economy is structured on people's concessions.

There is also a free nutritious meal program. This is good, but it's not just structures that are necessary; culture is also crucial. How can people be proud of being Indonesian? Don't be proud of the slogan "just run away first" that went viral among young people. Then there's the One Piece flag craze, which seems to overshadow the pride of flying the Red and White flag. After all, we've been here 80 years since the proclamation of independence.

This culture must also be free from corruption. When someone loves their nation, they refuse to commit corruption. What has happened so far is that corruption has become a culture, from the elite to the common people. During elections or regional elections, people are fed money politics. For just Rp 100,000, they are willing to betray their right to choose a true leader. Our culture is broken. The rich flaunt their wealth, ultimately giving rise to social jealousy. What our elite are displaying is a culture of bourgeoisie and pragmatism.

So, where do we fix this?

It must be done together by implementing articles 31, 32, 33, and 34 of the 1945 Constitution. This will create an independent and self-confident Indonesian nation, not one that feels inferior. A nation with a fighting spirit, not a slave mentality, let alone one steeped in corruption.

The founding fathers of this nation set an example; they didn't choose the easy path. They were willing to go to prison to stand up against colonialism. Such examples are now starting to diminish.

In your prediction, can the ideals of the proclamation of independence, becoming an independent, sovereign, just, and prosperous nation, be realized?

Now we are haunted by the question: will we become a failed state or the opposite? Economists measure this by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), which is 6,000 to escape the middle-income trap.

However, in Bhutan, for example, happiness doesn't depend on economics. They feel happy because they have nature, friends, and God. So it all depends on the definition of how we can be considered independent or not.

In fact, we can become a complete Indonesian nation, dignified, free, and imbued with good character, as taught by the religions in this country. If that is achieved, we are truly independent.

Freedom of association and assembly is guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution. Is this truly felt by our nation today?

If we look at the case of fake diplomas, for example, it has sparked both pros and cons in society. A true Indonesian nation should resolve this case through deliberation and consensus. Instead of resorting to state violence, it should be done through restorative justice.

There is a problem with our democracy. People who speak out are often prosecuted. During the Soeharto era, the state was very harsh on its people. As we entered the democratic era, over the past 10 years, it has been further undermined. Remnants of this remain.

For example, when Prabowo was insulted through a meme, he did not report the student who created the meme. Instead, Budi Arie—the head of Projo (Pro Jokowi)—called for the student to be imprisoned. However, Prabowo instead asked for the student's release.

Why does inequality still exist between rich and poor, strong and weak? Is this a form of modern colonialism?

Let's compare it to the Netherlands. They measure social inequality using the Gini coefficient (a statistical measure of the degree of inequality in the distribution of income or wealth within a population). Inequality in the Netherlands once reached 0.85. Then they made improvements, bringing the income Gini down to 0.28. Wages in the Netherlands are nearly equal. That's how the country addresses inequality.

In Indonesia, the state has yet to address both. Here, 30% of the population controls all productive assets. During the Prabowo era, this was corrected by confiscating the wealth of the wealthy, which had been acquired illegally. In a speech before the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ahead of the 80th Indonesian Independence Day, he stated that the state had already confiscated 3.7 million hectares of land. This wealth is distributed to the people through the concept of redistribution. But if it isn't permanent, this could change again.

So what else have you observed?

Regarding wages, the Prabowo government has raised them by 6.5%. During the Jokowi era, the increase was only around 1%. But this must be monitored to ensure it's truly implemented. In France, for example, when a company with a large workforce is threatened with bankruptcy, the government steps in by providing wage subsidies. This also requires hard work from the government to balance the inequality. We are currently waiting for its implementation.

Let's move on to the legal sector. The government recently granted pardon to Tom Lembong and amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto. How do you view this?

This is the president's political right, just like clemency and rehabilitation. Both of these individuals—one the Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and the other Anies Baswedan's right-hand man—both ran against Prabowo in the election. Prabowo doesn't want any lingering residue from the presidential election. He doesn't want anyone to become a victim of politicization. Many believe this move is aimed at the previous president.

Does this granting of pardon and amnesty comply with applicable legal principles in Indonesia?

Frankly, I'm not a legal professional. But I see this as a good step, so that political opponents don't feel like they're being criminalized or subjected to ongoing crimes. Today I gathered with representatives of more than 1,000 political prisoners from the Jokowi era, including myself, who was imprisoned for criticizing the omnibus law. This is what Prabowo is doing: criminalizing political opponents should no longer be allowed. It's enough in the Jokowi era.

Many consider the law in Indonesia "sharp at the bottom, blunt at the top." Do you agree? How can we improve it?

This is our collective responsibility to ensure that reform in the legal sector truly occurs. The morale of law enforcers must be improved; this is paramount. The government has indeed increased judges' remuneration by 280%, but what about the morale of judges? Has it changed?

For example, in the case of Tom Lembong, they were sentenced to 4.5 years, and Hasto to 3.5 years. President Prabowo ultimately corrected this by granting pardons and amnesties. Therefore, ongoing efforts must be made to ensure that the law is truly upheld.

In the context of independence, how can we ensure that every citizen receives fair legal treatment without discrimination?

Law enforcers must be moral and ethical. Remuneration has indeed been increased. A comprehensive overhaul of law enforcement officials, similar to that implemented in socialist countries, may also be necessary. Regional heads held a retreat some time ago. Furthermore, oversight must be in place to prevent incidents like those in Pati or other regions from recurring. Continuous ideologization must be carried out.

Legacies from previous eras, such as the mining case in Raja Ampat or the relocation of four islands from Aceh to North Sumatra, must not be allowed to recur. In this context, religion must be the foundation for improving the morale of law enforcers and state officials. The government must formulate a framework so that religious teachings can serve as a strong inspiration.

Judges should also be sworn in on the Quran when deciding cases. Furthermore, civil society must continue to monitor the performance of law enforcers and state officials.

Now, regarding economic sovereignty, the case of the 19% US tariff on Indonesian goods, while US goods are allowed 0% entry into Indonesia—how do you assess Indonesia's bargaining position in international trade?

Look at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He didn't care about Donald Trump's 50% tariff; he fought back. Brazil also dared to stand up to the US. In my opinion, Indonesia is being treated unfairly with that 19% tariff.

Equality between developing countries and European countries shouldn't be calculated at a 0% versus 0% ratio. Instead, Southern countries should be given more space. Because the majority of Southern countries were colonized by Western countries for a long time.

Indonesia's independence was partly due to the insistence of Nelson Rockefeller, the US President at the time. The Dutch eventually left, but many of their oil concessions were managed by American companies. In the theory of colonialism and post-colonialism, Indonesia remains colonized, but in a different form.

Are our negotiators incompetent?

In my opinion, they don't love Indonesia. They are pro-Western, agents of Western countries. Their priority is their own business. If they were truly in Indonesia's best interests, they should have rejected the 19% tariff. In Bung Karno's era, he wasn't afraid to confront America, Britain, and other Western countries.

Our trade negotiations with the United States have been unsuccessful, especially since we need to exchange people's personal data?

Bung Karno has long been concerned, fearing that this nation is not being colonized by a foreign nation, but by its own people. That's what's happening now. Why are trade negotiations involving the exchange of people's personal data? We feel like we're inferior to America, handing over everything.

Another issue is transparency.

For example, BPS (Central Statistics Agency) announced economic growth of 5.12%. But several institutions like CELIOS, INDEF, and LPEM-UI criticized the data. This means BPS needs to be audited: why is the data like that? The president should request an audit to find out where the errors lie. These institutions' calculations show growth of only 4.8% or 4.9%. If this isn't resolved, it could undermine public trust.

What are our biggest challenges going forward?

The next challenge is artificial intelligence or AI. If we're not prepared, we could be brainwashed by foreign powers. Take online gambling, for example. Prabowo wants to eradicate online gambling, but support for that is still minimal. Transaction volume has already exceeded IDR 1,000 trillion. It's a shame that public money is being diverted to online gambling.

The government, despite its shortcomings, must mobilize and optimize its existing potential. The Indonesian diaspora, spread across various countries, can be invited to help build the nation. China and India are examples of countries that have successfully utilized their diaspora. If everyone unites, God willing, Indonesia can rise again.

How should the younger generation interpret independence when our economy is so dependent on foreign countries?

I'm doing research on Dark Indonesia. It turns out they're worried because there's no certainty about jobs, no certainty about eradicating corruption, and no certainty that state institutions will improve themselves.

We can start with the third point: how can this country become a just and serving nation? Then, how do we educate the younger generation about responsibility? That they're not just living in Indonesia, but also contributing to Indonesia.

How do you view young people's criticism of the government?

As a form of expression—for example, through the demonstrations "Dark Indonesia," "Anxious Indonesia," and even the raising of the One Piece flag—I think it's good. These criticisms, regardless of whether anyone exploits them or not, should still be appreciated. They're part of their idealism. This potential must be channeled. If the government doesn't have sufficient funds, it can partner with the private sector through CSR.

From the government's perspective, what needs to be improved to fulfill this independence?

There are two sides: first, the economy, and second, culture. In the economic sector, Prabowo has a clear direction, but he's having difficulty implementing it. The MBG program, for example, is still top-down, even though it ideally should involve the community. Just like the integrated health post (Posyandu) program during the Soeharto era, the MBG program is still dominated by large businesses that distribute their products. The desire to involve the community in this program is still lacking.

The President, who champions the Pancasila economy, must ensure the elimination of neoliberal and capitalist economic practices. When establishing the Red and White Village Cooperative, we must ensure that we are a socialist nation. The umbrella is communal; no one should be able to control vast mining areas or hundreds of hectares of oil palm plantations.

Politically, a climate of dialogue must be maintained, as must freedom of association and public participation. Public energy must be channeled into positive things.

Hopefully, on this 80th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence, Indonesia can be better in the future.

Our hope is that in Prabowo's hands, Indonesia will be better, not dissolved as he once suggested. Whether Indonesia will dissolve in his hands, or be safe in his hands—this remains a question. Some suspect Prabowo will fail because he is still being manipulated by the Jokowi regime. This could hinder his beautiful dreams, outlined in his book, Paradoks Indonesia.

However, there are also those who hope that Prabowo will become the driving force that leads Indonesia in a better direction, especially as we move towards a Golden Indonesia 2045. Or, conversely, disintegrate. Many countries around the world have dissolved—dissolution doesn't mean the people disappear, but rather that the country no longer exists.

We hope that under Prabowo's leadership, Indonesia can emerge from its various problems. We must emerge from the shadow of the past. Otherwise, we cannot move forward.

Syahganda Nainggolan: Between Film, Sports, and Service

Beyond his demanding primary duties, Syahganda Nainggolan, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the GREAT Institute, continues to engage in various activities, from watching films to exercising to culinary exploration.

"I really enjoy watching movies because they entertain and inspire us. I like watching detective films and romantic comedies," said the man who enjoys morning walks.

However, in the Indonesian context, he continued, horror films are still popular. "The problem is that awareness of superstition and irrational beliefs is still high. If this is allowed to continue, it could become a threat to the nation's progress," said the man born in Medan on November 27, 1965.

Unfortunately, mystical culture is still practiced by important figures. "We still remember the motorcycle race in Mandalika several years ago, how the event organizers brought in a rain shaman. Yet, with science and technology, the weather can be manipulated," added the alumnus of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the University of Indonesia (UI).

Regular Exercise

To maintain his health, Syahganda exercises regularly. His go-to activities are morning walks and tai chi.

"I usually just walk around the house in the morning. Fifty to sixty minutes is enough, because it makes me sweat," he explained.

His favorite time is when the sun is just starting to shine. "I choose a time when the sun is shining. So, in addition to my morning walk, I also catch the healthy morning sunlight," he said.

Another exercise he enjoys is tai chi. "If done regularly, tai chi can help prevent many diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. I once had stage 1 cancer. Thank God, with regular tai chi, my condition is much better," he said.

Care for the Environment

As a student activist and activist, Syahganda Nainggolan knows full well that being a student isn't just about pursuing knowledge, but also about how that knowledge can benefit others.

"There are three main tasks of a university: education, research, and community service. Many universities fail in the third task, namely community service," he said.

According to Syahganda, he frequently discusses with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and they agree that students should not only gain knowledge on campus. "Each student must develop beyond their formal education. Being active in the Student Senate or intra-campus organizations is also an important means of gaining knowledge, in addition to attending lectures," he explained.

He continued, "KKN (Community Service Program)," he said, is actually a way for students to learn from the community. "However, what has happened recently is the opposite. Students teach the community, and sadly, the KKN program is focused more on formal implementation, while the results are often overlooked," he said.

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Most importantly, Syahganda Nainggolan emphasized, students must love their nation and country. "Our nation has abundant natural resources. The VOC, which colonized Indonesia in the past, became the richest company of its time because it exploited that wealth, which was never exhausted. I hope that we will produce wealthy and intelligent individuals like Elon Musk, who can create various innovations from Indonesia's natural wealth," he concluded.

"We hope that under Prabowo's leadership, Indonesia can emerge from its various problems. We must emerge from the shadows of the past. Otherwise, we cannot move forward."