Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Handover of Administrative Fines, Recovery of State Finances, and the Reclamation of Forest Areas Phase VI Friday, April 10, 2025

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia, as the host, Professor S.T. Burhanuddin, along with all ranks of the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia, who also serves as Deputy Chair of the Steering Committee of the Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH);
Acting Vice Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia, Professor Asep N. Mulyana;
Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Mr. Febrie Adriansyah;
Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence, Professor Reda Manthovani;
Deputy Attorney General for Development, Mr. Hendro Dewanto;
Deputy Attorney General for Supervision, Mr. Rudi Margono;
Deputy Attorney General for Civil and State Administrative Affairs, Professor R. Narendra Jatna;
Deputy Attorney General for Military Crimes, Mr. Mokhamad Ali Ridho;
Chair of Commission I of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Utut Adianto Wahjuwidajat;

Distinguished Ministers, Heads of Agencies, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces, Chief of the Indonesian National Police, Head of the State Intelligence Agency, and all members of the Red and White Cabinet present;

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Mr. Airlangga Hartarto;
Minister of Defense, General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Forest Area Regulation Task Force;
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bahlil Lahadalia;
Minister of Forestry, Mr. Raja Juli Antoni;
Minister of Environment, Mr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq;
Minister of Manpower, Professor Yassierli;
Minister of Transmigration, Mr. Muhammad Iftitah Suryanagara;
Minister of Finance, Mr. Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa;
Minister of State Secretariat, Mr. Prasetyo Hadi;
Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces, General Agus Subiyanto;
Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo;
Head of the State Intelligence Agency, General (Ret.) Muhammad Herindra;
Head of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, Mr. Muhammad Yusuf Ateh;
Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Teddy Indra Wijaya;
Acting Head of the Geospatial Information Agency, Mr. Mohamad Arief Syafi’i;

Distinguished members of the Forest Area Regulation Task Force;
Leaders of State-Owned Enterprises;
Distinguished guests, invitees, and members of the press and media.

As people of faith, let us always offer our gratitude to Allah the Almighty, the Lord of all creation, for His blessings, grace, and the health bestowed upon us, especially for the goodness and peace granted to our nation.

Today, we are gathered at the event for the 2026 Handover of State Financial Recovery and Asset Reclamation Results, as well as the Collection of Administrative Fines, amounting to Rp11,420,104,815,858.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is both an honor and a source of great satisfaction for me that such achievements have occurred repeatedly within just one and a half years of my administration. In October 2025, we successfully recovered Rp13.255 trillion in a corruption case involving export facilities for crude palm oil and its derivatives. Two months later, in December 2025, we recovered Rp6.625 trillion. And today, April 10, we have recovered Rp11.420 trillion. Thus, the total amount of cash we have recovered to date stands at Rp31.3 trillion.

This is an enormous figure. To put it into perspective, with this amount we could renovate 34,000 schools across Indonesia, Ladies and Gentlemen. Last year, we managed to renovate only 17,000 schools. This means that with these funds, we could potentially double the allocation, especially considering that many schools have not undergone repairs for decades. Alternatively, if allocated for housing for low-income families, this could renovate more than 500,000 houses, benefiting over two million of our citizens. Imagine if we had failed to recover these funds, if the Task Force had not performed its duty effectively. This money would have been lost and could not have benefited our people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have also been informed that the Task Force has successfully reclaimed control over forest-area state assets valued at approximately Rp370 trillion. Considering that our total state budget is around Rp3,700 trillion, this means that within just one and a half years, the Task Force has secured nearly 10 percent of the state budget.

With Rp370 trillion, we could repair and modernize all schools across Indonesia, equip them with digital technology, improve sanitation facilities nationwide, and build thousands of bridges in rural areas. We can imagine how the lives of our people would be transformed through the recovery of funds and assets that you have achieved.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Therefore, on behalf of the Government, the State, the nation, all Indonesian people, and personally, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and highest appreciation to all members of the Task Force for your dedication and sacrifice.

We understand the vast geographical challenges of our country. Conducting inspections, audits, and field operations is not easy. Those accustomed to working in offices in Jakarta, in air-conditioned rooms, may not fully understand the hardships you endure. However, I understand, I am fully aware. As President, I have many eyes and ears. I know that many of you have faced threats and intimidation. Once again, I deeply appreciate your service and sacrifice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Safeguarding and recovering state assets are a noble and honorable duty. Yet we must acknowledge that within our bureaucracy and institutions, there are individuals entrusted by the state who instead misuse their authority to assist those who steal from public funds. We know this happens. For that reason, I highly value your work. You are among those who still uphold a strong sense of responsibility toward the nation, the state, and our people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since receiving the mandate from the people, I have consistently appealed, through persuasive and humane approaches, as fellow Indonesians, as sons and daughters of this archipelago. Let us put an end to harmful practices. Let us stop deceiving the public, misleading our superiors, and backing illegal activities such as smuggling, illegal mining, and illegal plantations.

I urge those entrusted with a mandate from the people to carry out their duties with integrity. I understand that your salaries may not always be sufficient. However, we must remember that many of our people are in far worse conditions. We must bear in mind that our service in government is a form of devotion, our service in government is a form of devotion, our service in government is a form of devotion. How many more times must I reiterate that service in government is a sacrifice and a form of devotion.

For too long, the wealth of our nation has been plundered. That is why I issued Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 in January, just three months after assuming office, to establish this Task Force. If anyone threatens members of the Task Force, they are threatening the President of the Republic of Indonesia. If anyone obstructs its work, they are obstructing the work of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

And rest assured, I will exercise all constitutional powers granted to me under the 1945 Constitution to uphold the law, without exception, without favoritism.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Once again, our work remains challenging, and the road ahead is still long. Leakages and smuggling still occur. To the Commander of the Defense Forces, the Chief of Police, and the Minister of Finance, your institutions are tasked with stopping these practices. Use all your authority to enforce the law. All institutions must collaborate at every level to ensure the enforcement of the law.

I fully agree that law is an essential instrument for safeguarding national wealth. Without it, our people cannot prosper. We have no other choice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you for your hard work. Allow me to conclude by quoting a Harvard University economist, a prominent thinker of capitalism, who wrote in The Spirit of Capitalism that “the sustained growth characteristic of a modern economy is not self-sustained.”

The characteristics of a modern economy do not develop on their own. They are not self-sustaining. Growth is stimulated and sustained by nationalism. If even a leading capitalist thinker emphasizes nationalism, how can we, a nation that fought for independence with blood, sweat, and tears, fail to uphold that spirit?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We must choose where to stand. Will we stand on the side of what is right, upright, just, and the people of Indonesia or will we side with corruptors, manipulators, fraudsters, smugglers, and those who dare to mock our Republic?

There have been Supreme Court decisions left unenforced for years. Licenses revoked by the Government have been ignored for eight years, with illegal mining continuing unabated. They mock the Republic of Indonesia, dishonor the sacrifices of those who fell for our independence, and show no respect for the Republic. Therefore, I instruct the Attorney General: enforce the law. If they refuse to cooperate, prosecute them. We will not hesitate, and we will not waver.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The firmer and more resolute we are in defending the people, the stronger the resistance we will face. We shall not be concerned. We shall not be concerned. They will use all means. They will use the money they have stolen to finance organized movements. But we will not waver. Believe me, the people stand with us. The people are proud of you. The people are watching.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

How many more times must we prove our commitment to safeguarding public funds? How many more times must we prove? We will never stop. We will not be afraid. We will continue forward in defending our nation.

Thank you.

Keep up the fight! Keep up the fight! I deeply respect your work. We stand ready to sacrifice for the right cause, as defending the people is a noble duty.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
May peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om,
Shalom,
Salve,

I Thank you.

Keep up the fight! Merdeka!

(AY/MMB)