By: Arman Panggabean )*
Amidst the onslaught of negative issues regarding the condition of Indonesia, the government has instead presented facts that show that the direction of national development is moving forward and measurable. During the first 150 days of President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, a number of important achievements have been achieved, providing real evidence that the narrative about “dark Indonesia” is not based on reality. The government works progressively and concretely, responding to criticism with results that can be felt directly by the people.
President Prabowo Subianto has prepared a government framework with an approach based on the real needs of the people from the start. He emphasized that the key to national economic revival lies in independence in the food, energy, and water sectors. This vision is not just a slogan, but is realized in the form of real programs that produce strategic achievements.
In the food sector, for example, the government recorded the highest rice stock in the last 23 years, reaching 3.4 million tons, and is projected to increase to 4 million tons. This is the answer to the fear of a rice crisis that previously haunted the public.
Concrete steps in the agricultural sector are also evident from the increase in rice absorption of up to 1.7 million tons in just the first four months of 2025. The government is moving quickly to ensure that the distribution of harvest results is maximally absorbed, while improving supporting infrastructure such as irrigation. Two million hectares of land have been mapped for improving irrigation networks to support farmer productivity. The image of farmers as a less prosperous profession has also been improved through smoother fertilizer policies and more efficient distribution, avoiding detrimental intermediary practices.
The President also showed concern for the stability of food prices, especially during Ramadan. Monitoring was carried out directly, even until the evening, to ensure that the prices of basic necessities remained under control. Cross-ministerial coordination was running optimally with command posts established in all regions. As a result, the community was able to carry out fasting and celebrate Eid al-Fitr without the pressure of soaring prices.
On the social welfare side, the government launched the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program which has reached more than three million beneficiaries. This program not only functions as a nutritional intervention, but also as a future investment to form a healthy and intelligent generation. In addition, the free health check program focuses on early detection of chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, which has been the cause of high mortality in Indonesia due to low awareness of early check-ups.
On a macro level, the national economic condition shows a positive trend. President Prabowo explained that Indonesia’s inflation is among the lowest in the world, while the debt-to-GDP ratio is around 39 percent—much lower than many neighboring countries. Indonesia’s fiscal deficit is still under control at below 3 percent. This shows the stability of the economic fundamentals that are carefully maintained by the government.
As part of the state asset management reform, the government launched the Danantara Investment Management Agency. This institution professionally manages state assets with a value of nearly 1,000 billion US dollars. Prabowo emphasized the importance of managing state assets with international standards so that they can bring long-term benefits to national development.
The President also encouraged efficiency and fairness in social policy through the establishment of a single national socio-economic data. With a system that allows household identification based on name and address, the distribution of social assistance is now more targeted and transparent. In addition, the reduction in the cost of the Hajj and the increase in teacher salaries are real forms of the state’s commitment to the basic needs of the people and educators.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, emphasized the importance of conveying this achievement to the wider community as a form of government responsibility in educating the public. He considered the narrative of “dark Indonesia” that has developed on social media and public opinion to be inconsistent with the facts on the ground. The government, according to him, is not anti-criticism, but remains obliged to prioritize positive, correct information so that people are not trapped in disinformation. He emphasized that the agricultural sector, one of the backbones of the nation, has recorded much progress, including in the availability of fertilizer and high harvest yields.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, said that the highest rice stock achievement in the last two decades is proof of the government’s effective strategy. Rice production, which is projected to increase to 34.6 million tons this year, strengthens optimism about national food security. The government’s readiness to face the peak of the national corn harvest also shows good coordination in absorbing production and maintaining price stability. According to him, all of this data has been verified by official institutions such as BPS and Bulog, so it can be the basis for accurate policies.
These achievements are a real reflection of the measurable work and strategic vision of the current government. President Prabowo does not just promise change, but proves it through real programs that directly touch the lives of the people. All of these efforts are the strongest response to the dark narrative that tries to marginalize the facts. The government shows that Indonesia’s direction is not towards darkness, but rather treading a bright path towards independence, stability, and more equitable prosperity.
)* Social Policy Observer – Madani Institute Social Institution
