Jakarta — The American magazine Time has shed light on the evolving friendship between President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), tracing their journey from fierce political rivals to eventual allies, with Prabowo now set to be Jokowi’s successor.
In an article titled “How President Prabowo Subianto Is Steering Indonesia’s Future”, published on Tuesday (October 15), Time recounted how the two leaders found common ground after the 2019 presidential election. Following the election, Jokowi extended an invitation to Prabowo to join his cabinet. Initially reluctant, Prabowo eventually accepted the offer to serve as Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, a position he considered difficult to refuse due to his military background and love for the defense sector.
“Jokowi is a very good man, and I also want to be like him,” Prabowo said to Time with a smile.
As part of Jokowi’s government, Time highlighted that Prabowo proved himself to be a diligent and steadfast minister. Over time, he emerged as a strong candidate to succeed Jokowi, while maintaining his own bold vision for the future.
Prabowo’s policies are centered around direct action to improve people’s lives. His plans include providing free meals for students in schools, combating deeply rooted corruption by raising civil servant salaries, and employing advanced technology like AI. Additionally, Prabowo aims to transform Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, into a major food exporter within five years by implementing new agricultural techniques.
Prabowo also set an ambitious goal to eliminate poverty in Indonesia within two years. “The Almighty God and the Indonesian people have given me a mandate,” he told Time.
“I always say we need strength, but that strength must be used for good,” Prabowo concluded.
Through this article, Time underscores the evolution of the relationship between Prabowo and Jokowi, demonstrating how their past rivalry has transformed into a cooperative partnership that is shaping the future of Indonesia. (RR)
Source : Time.com