Prabowo's Sharp Message to Entrepreneurs at the 2026 WEF Forum: Try to Bribe My Officials, You Will Be Surprised

JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto reiterated his commitment to eradicating corruption and illegal business practices when speaking before global company leaders and world economic actors at the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, January 22.

In front of international businessmen, Prabowo openly delivered a stern warning to those who still consider Indonesian government officials can be bribed for business interests.

"I received reports that in meetings they said, 'It's okay, there is no government official who cannot be bought.' I challenge those who dare to bribe in my government. They will be surprised," said Prabowo.

The statement was delivered as a direct message to the global business community that his government would not tolerate corrupt practices, collusion, or illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Prabowo said that in the first year of his administration, Indonesia had taken the most decisive law enforcement steps in national history. The government, he said, had confiscated around 4 million hectares of illegal plantation and mining land that was controlled without a valid permit.

He said that this practice was not part of the free market mechanism, but a form of "greedonomics", or an economy of greed, a system that allows a few parties to reap huge profits at the expense of law, the environment, and public interests.

"Maybe in many countries there has been a time like this, the time of the robber barons," he said, referring to the practice of monopoly and exploitation in the early industrialization era.

In addition to confiscating land, the government also revoked the licenses of 28 companies that controlled more than 1.01 million hectares of land after violations were found, including activities in protected forest areas. The government also closed around 1,000 illegal mines, although thousands of other mine points are still being disciplined.

According to Prabowo, these steps are an effort to restore state sovereignty as well as create a healthy and fair business climate for law-abiding investors.

"We can only have the courage to enforce the law. There must be no compromise. There must be no setback," he said.

He added that consistent law enforcement was an important foundation for Indonesia to be seen as a credible and transparent business partner in the eyes of the world.

"My people demand this. And we are determined to serve the people with honesty," said Prabowo.