Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration Ceremony of the 3,395 TNI-Polri Bridges and 3,000 TNI AD Clean Water Sources Via a Video Conference from Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, August 13, 2026

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good afternoon,

May peace be upon be us all,

Shalom,

Salve,

Om swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Honorable Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak along with the Army Leaders and all Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) personnels whom I respect and am proud of, wherever you may be;

Honorable Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo along with the commissioned officers and all Polri personnel across Indonesia, wherever you are stationed;

Minister of State Secretary Saudara Prasetyo Hadi

Cabinet Secretary Lt. Col. Teddy Indra Wijaya

Respected Governor of Banten Saudara Andra Soni along with the attending Banten Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda);

Respected Regent of Lebak Saudara Mochamad Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya;

Respected Regent of Pandeglang, Saudari Raden Dewi Setiani;

Respected all TNI soldiers and Polri members, wherever you are on duty;

Respected representatives of the beneficiary community, as well as all attendees, invitees, wherever you may be.

As people of faith, undoubtedly, let us never cease to offer our praise and gratitude to the presence of the Almighty and Greatest God, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala for muslim community, for all the blessing, grace, and benevolence bestowed upon us. [We are grateful] for the breath and health granted to us, allowing us to gather here this afternoon.

Ladies and Gentlemen who are gathered in Lebak regency and Bekasi,

Today, we inaugurate 339 bridges, pardon me, 3,395 bridges built by the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and 3,000 clean water sources constructed by the TNI.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government, the people of Indonesia, and on my own behalf, I would like to extend my highest appreciation and gratitude to the Army Chief of Staff and to the Polri Chief, as well as to officials of the TNI and Polri, and to all personnel of the TNI and Polri. I am proud of all of you. You have carried out well missions of service, missions dedicated to the people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

[Today’s inauguration] is proof that the TNI is truly the people’s military, and that the Polri truly is the people’s police. We must always remember this. You are not ordinary soldiers, and you are not ordinary police officers. You are the people’s military and the people’s police, who were born from the people, then fight alongside the people, give your best to the people, and will ultimately return to the people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today I am proud. Today, I am deeply moved. Today, we prove that the Indonesian nation is a truly united nation, a nation of mutual cooperation (gotong royong), a nation capable of tapping into our own strengths to work [tirelessly] for the prosperity and well-being of the people. You took the initiative even before I gave formal instructions, you were already working, and I monitored it. For years, since my time as Minister of Defense, I have monitored the initiatives taken by all of you. General Maruli, even before becoming the Army Chief of Staff, before holding the highest post in the Army, I have monitored your excellent initiatives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although you may not realize it, every good deed, every noble service rendered by an individual, an official, or a leader is monitored, observed, recorded, and remembered by the people. Therefore, I believe that a soldier like Maruli Simanjuntak, who becomes the top officer in the Army, is well-deserved through his work and service. I am also confident that the Polri Chief General Listyo reached the pinnacle of the institution, because he deserves that position through merit, dedication, and capability.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my deep pride [in all of you]. As President of the Republic of Indonesia and on a personal note, as Prabowo Subianto, I thank you for joining hands with me. You have grasped the true essence of leadership. You have felt the joy that comes when we can do something meaningful for our people, especially for our most remote citizens [and for] our rural communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, you have reported thousands of efforts [accomplished] in challenging areas. The people themselves acknowledge that your subordinates, your soldiers, and your police force have worked around the clock, in difficult times and harsh weather. You have achieved fundamental things. Perhaps we could undertake grander projects. Yes, we need massive investment. Yet we now realize, and must continuously reaffirm, that the state must be present for our most [remote citizens], those living furthest from [major urban centers] must also enjoy a high quality of life. You have helped our people overcome their hardships; those who used to walk for hours now have an easier journey; those who had no access to clean water or struggled to find it, now benefit from your dedications.

I believe that is the most important message I want to convey. To all Indonesian people, today you witness proof once again that the TNI and the Polri have no other aspirations, no other desire, than to serve their people and serve their country. This is what fills me with joy. There are many more projects that I will inaugurate in the future, the grand and strategic projects that will propel Indonesia into a modern, advanced, and prosperous nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have accomplished great things. However, today is proof that no matter how big our aspirations and plans may be, we must never overlook small things.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you once again. To the Army Chief of Staff and Polri Chief, please convey my pride and my highest respect to all personnel of the TNI and Polri. I am proud [of you]. Thank you once again.

And so, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, on this morning, Thursday, August 13, 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby officially inaugurate 3,395 TNI-Polri bridges and 3,000 TNI AD clean water sources built for the benefit of the Indonesian people.

Thank you.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. 

(NST/MUR)