Jakarta, September 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed his commitment to closing loopholes in state revenues and combating systemic irregularities that have caused major losses to the nation.
Speaking at the 6th National Conference of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in Jakarta on Monday, the president said that national wealth lost due to elite negligence is estimated at trillions of rupiah each year.
“This is what I will fight against, and I hope all of you and all political parties, including the PKS, will join me,” Prabowo declared.
He described illegal mining as a form of “systemic robbery,” citing long-standing negligence by segments of the elite. Highlighting the case of Bangka Belitung, once a global center of tin mining, he revealed that around 1,000 illegal mines had been discovered, inflicting significant losses on the state.
Since September 1, Prabowo said, the military, police, and Customs and Excise have been instructed to shut down all tin smuggling routes in Bangka Belitung, including maritime and ferry channels. The government estimates that this move could save up to Rp22 trillion (US$1.32 billion) by the end of 2025 and as much as Rp45 trillion in 2026.
The president further noted that mining waste often contains rare earth minerals, and he has directed Customs and Excise to recruit chemical experts to strengthen oversight. He added that illegal practices also persist in nickel, coal, and bauxite sectors, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement.
Prabowo emphasized that controlling natural resources is a constitutional duty, stressing that they must be managed for the prosperity of the people. He also cautioned against external powers seeking to undermine Indonesia’s development agenda and economic revival for their own gain.
“They want great wealth to be enjoyed by only a few people,” he warned.
