Economy Grows 5 Percent, But Poor People Increase, Prabowo Says There is Something Wrong

BANGKALAN - President Prabowo Subianto questioned the anomalies of the Indonesian economy. He said that economic growth claimed to be stable did not automatically make people's lives better.

In his speech at the closing of the Alim Ulama Congress and the NU 2026 Grand Conference (Konbes) in Bangkalan, Tuesday, June 23, Prabowo said Indonesia's economy is said to have grown by around 5 percent per year over the past seven years.

Simply put, he said, in seven years Indonesia should have become richer by about 35 percent. However, the facts he saw were different.

"The country is richer, the poor people are richer. This is something strange," said Prabowo.

He also highlighted the middle class, which he said was falling back to near the poor. According to him, this condition shows that economic growth has not been enjoyed evenly.

Prabowo assessed that there was something wrong in the economic system if only a few people enjoyed growth.

"If the poor increase, the middle class decreases, it means that only a few people enjoy growth," he said.

He said that this condition was not in line with the ideals of independence. According to Prabowo, independence should bring the people to justice and prosperity.

Prabowo said he would improve the system because he had sworn to protect the interests of the people.