Prabowo Partly Praise Indonesia's Authoritarian New Order Regime

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s opposition figure and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gave praise to the authoritarian New Order regime under Soeharto’s ruling for 32 years.

According to Prabowo, who is also Soeharto’s former son-in-law, there are good people behind a ruling regime and argues that it is what happened in Soeharto’s first 20-25 year ruling.

“From the 32-year of the New Order regime, let’s say the first 20-25 years, there were successes for Indonesia and its people,” said Prabowo at the Hotel Grand Sahid Jaya Central Jakarta on Sunday.

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This was expressed in a speech in front of Muhammadiyah and Aisyiah organizational exponents and claimed that the Indonesian Muslim Scholars Association (ICMI) which was founded in 1990 was formed because of the New Order regime.

“It was the New Order that made it possible for Islamic youths to create things and influence serve in various influential institutions,” said the Gerindra Party Chairman.

He did not stop there and praised the New Orders’ food self-sufficiency, Indonesia’s first aircraft-making capabilities, and economic growth of 6-8 percent for a span of 25 years.

“We were the darling of the world bank. Back in 1996-1997 they always said that the fundamental of the Indonesian economy is very strong,” said Prabowo who mentioned Amien Rais as one his mentors.

At the event, Prabowo Subianto once again complained about the amount of wealth “leaked” overseas and promises to investigate if elected as president.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI