Prabowo: People Want Honest and Fair Leaders

President Prabowo Subianto (ANTARA/Fathur Rochman)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto said the Indonesian people yearn for leaders who are honest, fair, and work for the public's benefit.

"By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this morning, Monday, February 2, 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby officially declare the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of the Central and Regional Governments opened," said Prabowo as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 2.

In his briefing, the President emphasized the importance of understanding the role and duties of the government apparatus, both at the central and regional levels, as leaders of the people. Prabowo said that the Indonesian people basically want a peaceful and harmonious life.

The President conveyed the people's hope for the presence of a fair, honest leader, and working for the interests of the wider community, not for the interests of certain individuals or groups.

"They hope and even yearn for always good leaders, fair leaders, honest leaders, leaders who work for the people, not just a handful of people. They don't even like leaders who only advance their personal interests. This is the hope of all our people," he said.

The Rakornas is considered an important momentum because it brings together almost all elements of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia from the center to the regions in one national coordination forum.

"This is the hope of all our people and today for me is a good opportunity I can meet face to face with almost 99 percent of the Indonesian government from the central level to the region," said the President.

On that occasion, Prabowo also expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian as the organizer of the rakornas.

The President assessed that the forum was important to strengthen the spirit of all levels of government in carrying out their duties and responsibilities to the nation and state.

The Head of State also touched on the views of a number of parties from abroad who doubted Indonesia's ability as a country with diversity in tribes, ethnicity, race, religion, and language to unite in one country.

According to the President, Indonesia has actually proven that diversity can be united within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia to pursue common ideals.

"They can't imagine how a country with so many ethnic groups, ethnic groups, so many races, so many major religions, hundreds of languages can come together, can unite, can pursue their ideals in one framework of the unitary state of Indonesia," said Prabowo.

The implementation of the 2026 National Coordination Meeting between the Central and Regional Governments is a strategic agenda for the government in bringing together central and regional government elements in one national coordination forum.

The Rakornas is expected to be attended by around 4,473 participants from across Indonesia, consisting of heads of ministries and agencies, governors, regents, and mayors, heads of DPRD, and elements of the forum for coordination of regional leaders (forkopimda).

This forum is designed to strengthen policy synergies between the central and regional governments, as well as to align the implementation of national development programs with the needs and conditions in the region.