Talking About Cruel Inter-National Competition, Prabowo: Don't Think We're Loved

Prabowo Subianto during a dialogue with PGI. Photo: Nailin In Saroh/VOI

JAKARTA - Presidential Candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto warned that Indonesia must become an independent country and be able to manage its wealth carefully. The Minister of Defense reminded that the intention of other nations is not always good. Because, said Prabowo, there is no such thing as an eternal friend. Prabowo even said that the competition between countries was very cruel. "I always remind you to be careful, because of the competition between cruel nations. Don't think other nations love us," Prabowo said during a meeting with the Indonesian Churches Association (PGI) at Graha Oikumene, Salemba, Jakarta, Friday, January 19. "There are no permanent friends and no permanent businesses, only permanent interest," he continued. The General Chairperson of Gerindra explained that what is meant by the eternal or permanent interest interests is the desire of a country to always meet the needs of its own nation. Therefore, Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia must be wise because its natural wealth is wanted by many other nations, even since hundreds of years ago. "The eternal interest is to want to live enough by all nations, all ethnic groups, all countries, all human groups," he said. "And those who have wealth (to) allow for a prosperous life include Indonesia. What do we not have? Yes, right," continued Prabowo. Prabowo said that Indonesia is capable of becoming a world food barn if natural resources are managed properly. In addition, according to him, there is great potential to create energy self-sufficiency through the use of green energy. "Our energy will be green, not many countries can be like us, 100 percent we can have green energy, and 100 percent from within our own country," Prabowo explained. For example, Prabowo added, biosolars that have now been processed partly from palm oil. When processed 100 percent, he said, Indonesia is estimated to be able to save around 25 billion dollars per year. "Now we can make B35 percent diesel from palm oil. I have spoken to several experts, we can later make B100 or 100 percent diesel from palm oil," he said.

"Right now, our B35 has saved approximately 10 billion dollars per foreign exchange year. If later we go to B100, we can save 25 billion dollars each year," concluded Prabowo.