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Prabowo warns of resistance to Indonesia’s economic transformation

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday said he was prepared to face resistance from groups involved in illegal practices that hamper national economic transformation and weaken Indonesia.”We will face obstacles, we will face challenges, and we may also face resistance from groups that favor corruption, smuggling, and illegal economic activities,” Prabowo said while officiating the 2026 Pancasila Day ceremony in Jakarta.He said such resistance would likely come from those who do not love their country and continue seeking to weaken the Republic of Indonesia.”We may face resistance from those who do not love this country and even seek to weaken Indonesia. But as a great nation, we must have the courage to make the right decisions, even when they are difficult. We must have the courage to defend our people,” he said.According to Prabowo, a great nation must be willing to make difficult decisions that serve the interests of its people.He stressed that defending the people forms part of his historic responsibility as Indonesia's eighth president and a mandate entrusted to him by the public.Prabowo said he would not choose short-term convenience at the expense of future generations.He also identified unequal economic growth as one of Indonesia's longstanding structural weaknesses, noting that much of the added value generated from the country's abundant natural resources has been enjoyed abroad while many Indonesians have seen limited benefits.To address what he described as the leakage of national wealth, Prabowo said his administration is pursuing an economic transformation agenda based on Pancasila.The measures include implementing a centralized export system for natural resource commodities, expanding downstream industrialization, and strengthening the management of export earnings.The government is also reinforcing economic sovereignty through food security initiatives, village cooperatives, and the Free Nutritious Meals program.Prabowo expressed confidence that consistently applying Pancasila in politics, law, culture, and especially the economy would help Indonesia avoid division.This year's Pancasila Day commemoration carried the theme “Pancasila Unites the Nation, the Foundation of World Peace.”