Defense Minister Prabowo: The Biggest Challenge Is Our Elite Mindset, Comfortable In The Comfort Zone

Prabowo Subianto/DOK Prabowo Subianto Media Team

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto conveyed his biggest challenge during his tenure, one of which was the elite government mindset which had been in the comfort zone for too long.

This situation, according to Prabowo, could make the elites lulled and missed the thought that there were various threats that could be dangerous for Indonesia's defense.

"The biggest challenge I see is our mind-setelite. In my opinion, our mind-setellite is too comfortable. We have been in the comfort zone for too long. Kira is in a relatively peaceful period so that our elite feels oh, this peaceful situation is a normal situation," said the Defense Minister during an interview with Najwa Shihab as reported by ANTARA, Friday, June 30.

Prabowo said Indonesia was also surrounded by friendly countries so that the elites often assumed there was no threat.

"It's a very tough one. With us feeling there is no threat, finally in my opinion, our elite feels that defense is not very important. That defense, it's nice to have, but vital," Prabowo said.

However, Prabowo, while serving as Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia for almost 4 years, assessed that defense is a vital matter, including during times of peace.

"Learning in Political and State Sciences wherever, defense is vital. Defense is vital. We can be safe, prosperous, because we can defend our country, our territory, our territory," said the Minister of Defense.

Prabowo explained that Indonesia must always be alert and always protect its territory, because there are many resources that need to be protected from the threat of looters, including foreign fishing boats that often steal fish in Indonesian waters.

In our region there is a lot of wealth. Mineral wealth, mining, all kinds are on land and are at sea. We have fish wealth, if I'm not mistaken, our fish reserves are the second largest in the world. So, the potentials of this wealth if we don't take care of it, this is very worrying," said Prabowo Subianto.

Therefore, while carrying out his duties as minister of defense, Prabowo is determined to modernize Indonesia's defense equipment. Under Prabowo's leadership, the Ministry of Defense purchased various types of new defense equipment for Indonesia, ranging from warplanes, warships, to the latest technology radar.