MAGELANG, Indonesia — Indonesia’s newly sworn-in President Prabowo Subianto, along with his cabinet, kicked off a military-style retreat on Friday at a military training facility in Java province.
The group, donned in military gear including camouflage uniforms and combat boots, began their retreat at the National Military Academy of Indonesia, nestled amidst the mountainous landscape of Magelang.
Members of the cabinet, along with their deputies, arrived in Central Java on Thursday aboard a Hercules C-130J aircraft, provided by the Indonesian Air Force.
In a statement released by Prabowo’s Media Team, it was noted that attendees were instructed to rise at 4 a.m. to participate in physical exercise and marching drills.
During his inaugural address at the academy, the 73-year-old former general clarified that his intent was not to establish a military government but rather to underscore the importance of a disciplined approach, akin to military standards, in governance and even within corporate structures.
“I am not demanding your loyalty to Prabowo; instead, I urge you to be loyal to our homeland and to the nation of Indonesia,” Subianto emphasized.
In addition to the retreat, Subianto also led a discussion with his cabinet about critical issues, including their respective focuses and commitments towards tackling poverty, combating corruption, and aiming for self-reliance in food and energy resources.
Subianto follows in the footsteps of other Indonesian leaders with military backgrounds, such as Suharto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, both of whom were retired generals.
Nevertheless, this particular retreat marks a unique approach during Subianto’s inaugural term in office. He officially took on the role of president of Southeast Asia’s largest economy on Sunday, where he also introduced an extensive cabinet composed of 109 members, the largest since 1966.