Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto stressed that Indonesian leaders must be smart and possess broad knowledge in order to face various challenges and avoid being easily deceived.
“Broad knowledge. That is right. Indonesian leaders must be smart. Don’t let people deceive you. Don’t let yourselves be fooled,” Prabowo said when delivering a speech at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday.
As monitored via a live YouTube broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat channel, Prabowo made the remarks while outlining values that he said he believes are important for Indonesia’s younger generation to possess.
The President said Indonesia’s younger generation must also have the courage to recognize their own shortcomings and weaknesses.
He said he believes that having knowledge alone is not enough as a person also needs to be able to see issues correctly.
In addition to having broad knowledge, Prabowo added that Indonesia’s younger generation also needs to have independent minds.
“Think independently. Do not let yourselves be brainwashed by those who do not have good intentions toward us,” he said.
The President also stressed the importance of having a strong spirit and not feeling inferior when facing challenges.
“Do not feel inferior. Do not feel defeated before you even fight,” Prabowo said.
On the occasion, Prabowo also linked the values of Gontor’s Panca Jiwa (Five Spirits) to the struggle of building the Indonesian nation, which include sincerity, simplicity, self-reliance, brotherhood, and freedom.
Prabowo said these values align with the struggle of the Indonesian nation, including the aspiration for Indonesia to stand on its own feet.
The 100th anniversary commemoration of Darussalam Gontor Islamic Boarding School was also followed by the inauguration of a modern meeting hall and the Darussalam Gontor University Faculty of Medicine by President Prabowo.
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Translator: Fathur, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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