Written by :
LARSHENYUNUS, S.Sos., Sc., SE., SH., M.Si;
PowerNetizen.com – With Prabowo Subianto elected as President of the Republic of Indonesia in 2024, the people have placed high hopes on his leadership for meaningful change. Many citizens see Prabowo as a strong, patriotic leader committed to advancing the country. With his military background and extensive political experience, Prabowo is viewed as capable of providing solid, stable, and disciplined leadership to face increasingly complex challenges at both the national and global levels.
Hopes for National Defense and Security
One of the primary expectations from Prabowo is a focus on strengthening national defense and security. As a former Minister of Defense, Prabowo demonstrated a commitment to enhancing defense capabilities through modernizing equipment and bolstering Indonesia’s own military capacity. Many Indonesians hope that, as president, he will continue this commitment by building a more self-reliant defense system, enabling Indonesia to address regional threats such as tensions in the South China Sea and other challenges to national sovereignty.
In the long term, the hope is that Prabowo will create a robust domestic defense industry that will reduce dependence on foreign imports of military equipment, open up substantial local job opportunities, and encourage innovation within the nation.
Economic Self-Reliance and Empowerment of the People
In the economic sector, there are strong expectations that Prabowo will help steer Indonesia toward a more self-reliant economy. One current problem facing the country is dependency on imports for essential resources like food, energy, and consumer goods. People are hopeful that Prabowo will promote policies of food and energy self-sufficiency and develop industries capable of meeting domestic needs with competitive quality.
Additionally, there is great hope that Prabowo’s economic policies will focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the national economy. By prioritizing SMEs, Prabowo is expected to create jobs, reduce unemployment, and empower more citizens to engage in the local economy. Many also hope that he will work to reduce the economic gap between urban and rural areas through equitable infrastructure development.
Improving Education Quality and Human Resource Development
The people’s expectations for Prabowo extend to improving education and developing human resources. With a large youth population, Indonesia needs a long-term strategy for enhancing its workforce’s skills and knowledge. Vocational education, skill training, and greater access to quality education are part of what people hope Prabowo will prioritize to equip Indonesian youth to compete in an increasingly digital and technology-driven world.
Developing a skilled and globally competitive workforce is also crucial if Indonesia is to move beyond being a source of inexpensive labor and instead provide highly skilled talent for high-value industries.
A Transparent and Corruption-Free Government
Amid social and economic challenges, Indonesians aspire for Prabowo to lead a transparent and corruption-free government. Citizens desire a justice system that upholds fairness and accountability, where corruption and abuse of power are minimized. Many Indonesians want a clean and transparent bureaucracy that ensures public funds are used effectively for the people’s benefit, rather than for personal or group interests.
As president, Prabowo is expected to take corruption seriously, either by strengthening the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) or by building a strong anti-corruption culture across all levels of government.
National Unity and Tolerance
Beyond physical and economic development, Indonesians place great hope in Prabowo to maintain national unity and harmony. In a society as diverse as Indonesia in terms of religion, ethnicity, and culture, Prabowo is expected to be a leader who can embrace all groups and uphold tolerance. Many hope he will champion the values of Pancasila and serve as a symbol of unity that strengthens solidarity among all Indonesians.
As president, Prabowo has the opportunity to foster a harmonious and inclusive environment by encouraging inter-community dialogue and upholding religious freedom. This is not only about maintaining stability but also about creating a nation that respects diversity and works together in that diversity toward shared progress.
Conclusion: Leadership that Brings Real Change
The people of Indonesia view Prabowo as a leader with the potential to bring significant transformation across various aspects of life. From defense, economy, and education to law enforcement and religious freedom, Indonesians have high hopes that Prabowo will provide leadership that is both firm and inclusive, disciplined yet embracing, and above all, aligned with the nation’s interests.
If Prabowo can meet these expectations with concrete actions, his leadership could mark a historic period, moving Indonesia toward greater independence, security, and prosperity. The challenges ahead are substantial, but with a clear vision and the cooperation of all segments of society, the people of Indonesia are optimistic that Prabowo Subianto’s presidency can bring the long-awaited change.
