Meeting Prabowo, Indonesian Students in Jordan Ask for the Attention of the State

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto took the time to greet and briefly chat with a number of Indonesian students who welcomed the President of the Republic of Indonesia in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, February 24, local time.

In a brief meeting in the lobby where President Prabowo stayed, a number of students also conveyed their hopes directly to the Head of State.

"We just conveyed (to the President, ed.) that (we) pray that the President is always healthy, and we are very happy to meet (the President) here, in Jordan. Meeting with the President, in Indonesia, it is difficult for us to meet, but here we are Alhamdulilah we can meet with him," said Said Muhammad Aqil, representative of Indonesian students, who met after the welcoming ceremony for President Prabowo in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday night.

Said Muhammad Aqil and other students, namely Fadhil and Adil, are students of the University of Jordan, the oldest and most prestigious public university in Jordan. Said studied Fiqih and Usluhuddin, while Fadhil studied Syariah.

"In the future for the President, (we hope) for us to get special attention for students, diaspora who are abroad so that we can all be more motivated to study by getting support (support, ed.) from the country," said Said Muhammad Aqil.

Dozens of Indonesian students in Amman, the majority of whom are studying at the University of Jordan, visited the hotel where President Prabowo stayed since Tuesday afternoon. Most of them wore batik tops, and carried small Red and White flags to be waved when welcoming President Prabowo's arrival.

For Said and Fadhil, the Red and White flag that they carried became a symbol of pride as Indonesian citizens who are currently far from their homeland.

"We all hold the Red and White flag, we are all Indonesian here, we are not foreigners (foreign nationals). We are Indonesian, we are proud to be Indonesian citizens who study abroad, who will later return to Indonesia to bring knowledge and bring spirit when they return to their homeland," said Said Muhammad Aqil on behalf of his friends Indonesian students in Amman, Jordan.

President Prabowo and a limited group of state officials arrived in Amman, Tuesday night, to hold a bilateral meeting with the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, on Wednesday (25/2).

The bilateral meeting between President Prabowo and the King of Jordan is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon at the Al Husseiniya Palace.

The entourage of officials accompanying President Prabowo on his visit to Amman on February 24-25 includes Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

After completing all his agenda in Amman, President Prabowo is scheduled to leave Jordan on Wednesday afternoon.