IAIN Academic Appreciates Prabowo's Firmness In Combating Cartel

JAKARTA - IAIN Gorontalo academic Sahmin Madina appreciated President Prabowo Subianto's firm steps in the first year of the red and white cabinet government by fighting the practices of cartels and the economic mafia that have so far controlled national strategic sectors.

He considered Prabowo's firmness as a real step to build the nation's economic sovereignty.

"So far, the cartel has been living free because of weak supervision and political courage. President Prabowo broke the chain with concrete actions. This is not only a matter of the economy, but a matter of taking sides with the small people," Sahmin told reporters, Friday, October 17, 2025.

According to him, government policies that have begun to curb mafia practices in the oil and gas, mining and food sectors show the direction of government that is serious about eradicating economic distortion.

He said the Attorney General's report revealed that the potential state losses from the oil and gas mafia practice reached more than Rp271 trillion per year.

"The massive audit of the energy and mining sector initiated by President Prabowo is proof of courage. Likewise, the revamping of oil palm land in protected forest areas and controlling illegal mines. All of these are signs that the state is no longer subject to the interests of a handful of groups," he said.

Sahmin assessed that President Prabowo's courage was in line with the spirit of Trisakti Bung Karno, namely to be independent in the economy and sovereign in politics.

"Prabowo is carrying out his historical mandate, by restoring national economic control to the hands of the people, not to the cartel that is profiting from the nation's sweat," he said.

He also called for the public to support the President's firm policies. According to him, fighting the cartel means fighting the old, rooted economic structure.

"President Prabowo cannot fight alone. Academics, students, and the people must stand together. This is a struggle for the nation's future," he said.

Sahmin added, since early 2025 the government has strengthened the system of supervision and coordination between agencies in taking action against mafia practices. This effort has begun to be felt with the stabilization of food prices and increasing income of farmers and fishermen.

"In the past, the cartel could arbitrarily play the price, now it can't be done arbitrarily anymore. The state is here again to protect the people," he said.