Prabowo Questions NGOs, Media on Funding: 'Who Pays Your Salary?'

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has strongly questioned the funding sources of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and some media outlets, drawing a parallel to historical figures deemed traitors during the colonial era. Speaking at the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Jakarta on Thursday (July 23), Prabowo referred to the historical term 'Londo Ireng' (Black Dutch), used for indigenous Indonesians who collaborated with Dutch colonizers. "These 'Londo Ireng' still exist today. They just wear different clothes now, right? Journalists, commentators, NGOs. We must ask NGOs, who pays your salary? Who pays your electricity? Who pays your cellphone bills?" Prabowo stated, questioning their loyalty and transparency. He argued that since the colonial period, there have been unpatriotic Indonesians serving foreign interests. At the same time, Prabowo criticized some media for allegedly downplaying the government's extensive renovations of school buildings. He stated that his administration has repaired approximately 67,000 school buildings and instructed that this number be increased to 100,000 next year. "Schools that have been neglected for years. There are also media outlets that... right? Even though we have repaired 67,000 schools, they find a school that hasn't been repaired, take a big photo, and put it on the front page, oh dear," he remarked. However, Prabowo declined to name the specific media outlets he was referring to. He suggested that the public is already aware without him needing to elaborate, adding, "They think we don't understand. I won't mention which media. If I mention it, well... at the right time, I will. You already know. We are a democracy. We are not anti-criticism. But we are not children." Concurrently, Prabowo mentioned that some parties are campaigning for Indonesia to collapse. He stated that these predictions have consistently failed, and Indonesia has instead grown stronger. "So, ladies and gentlemen, we understand there is a big campaign for us to falter. Indonesia will collapse. In April, it will collapse. April passed, no collapse. In May, it will collapse. May passed, no collapse. In June, it will collapse. In July, it will collapse. It will collapse every month," he said. Information Source: CNN Indonesia