JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the state should not be subject to corporate interests in the management of natural resources. Prabowo made this statement when closing the Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace, Monday, December 15, following a series of disasters that occurred in the Sumatran Island region.
According to Prabowo, the disaster is an important lesson that the weak management of national resources and illegal practices have had a serious impact on the environment and people's lives.
"The lesson we learn from all this is that we need to really manage our resources. There are so many of our resources that are leaking, little by little we are closing," said Prabowo.
The President highlighted the practice of illegal logging, illegal mining, and smuggling which are still rampant and detrimental to the country. He emphasized that law enforcement must be carried out without compromise, including against the apparatus involved or protecting illegal activities.
"I hope the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief will really take action against their officers who protect smuggling activities and illegal activities. This violation of the law must be faced seriously," he said.
In his instructions, Prabowo reiterated that the management of the national economy must be based on Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution. The state, he said, needs the role of the business world, but must not allow corporate interests to defeat state sovereignty.
"There should be no corporation that defeats the state. We need the private business world, but they should not rule the country," he said.
He reminded that the earth, water, and all the natural wealth contained in it must be controlled by the state and used to the greatest extent for the prosperity of the people.
As a form of firmness, Prabowo revealed that the government had revoked and taken back millions of hectares of concession land that had been misused and stopped issuing new permits in the forestry and mining sectors.
"The government has regained control of about 4 million hectares of land. This year, not a single permit was issued or extended," he said.
According to Prabowo, concessions that do not benefit the national interest and instead channel profits abroad should not be allowed.
"If the concession is misused and the profits are taken abroad, it is detrimental to the national interest and the people of Indonesia," he said.
Closing his remarks, Prabowo invited all levels of government and the community to work together to ensure that Indonesia's wealth is not only enjoyed by a few parties.
"A handful of people should not enjoy Indonesia's wealth. Many people are still in trouble," he said.
English:
The President also expressed his appreciation to the TNI, Polri, health workers, and state apparatus who worked in the field with full risk to protect the people.
"I am proud to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia because I have a government and officers in the field who work for the people," concluded Prabowo.
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