President Prabowo Calls for National Development Based on Science, Facts, Driven by Courage

President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed that national development and awakening must be based on facts and reality, supported with scientific approaches. During his meeting with researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (08/06), the President instructed the entire government officials to build a leadership culture grounded in facts.

“I always encourage my team and all of you to lead based on facts, reality, and the actual situation., although we already realize that facts are sometimes uncomfortable, and reality is sometimes difficult to face,” the President said.

He noted that having the courage to face facts, even when they are sometimes unpleasant, is the first step to find the right solutions. According to the Head of State, no nation can achieve progress by constantly complaining or looking for someone to blame without conducting evaluations.

“I always remind you not to complain and look for scapegoats, because that will not help,” he said.

The President further stressed that mastery of science and technology is one of the keys to strengthening our national competitiveness. He expressed confidence that Indonesia possesses abundant human potential capable of producing innovations that benefit the nation.

“We actually have tremendous potential. Therefore, I instruct you, as scientists, to discover, nurture, maximize, develop, and support all potential we have through a proper process,” he continued.

The President also underlined that the founding fathers’ ideals of a developed, just, and prosperous Indonesia can be achieved through rational and science-based approach. For that reason, the President urged all stakeholders to make facts, science, and mathematics the foundation for addressing the nation’s challenges.

“We [must] use scientific and rational approaches [in dealing with problems]. Otherwise, we risk making mistakes. Rationale, science, mathematics, reality [must be taken into account]. Reality is science, reality is mathematics. Facts matter, even if they are sometimes painful,” the President remarked.

The President’s remarks reaffirm the Government’s commitment to strengthening evidence-based policy making while positioning research, innovation, and scientific excellence as the driving force of national development toward an advanced, self-reliant, and globally competitive Indonesia. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (YA/TM)