Jakarta, April 13, 2026 — The Europe Today: Prabowo Subianto has pledged to continue supporting the development of Indonesia’s traditional martial art, pencak silat, after concluding his 34-year tenure as chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association.
In a statement shared via his official Instagram account, @prabowo, following his address at the IPSI national conference in Jakarta, President Prabowo emphasized that his commitment to the martial art would remain unwavering.
“The struggle does not end here. I will continue supporting IPSI and pencak silat as a warrior until the end of my life,” he said.
Reflecting on his decades-long leadership, Prabowo described his tenure as a meaningful journey marked by notable achievements, including the growing international recognition of pencak silat. He noted that his participation in the conference was to present his accountability report for the 2021–2026 chairmanship period and to express gratitude to IPSI members across the country.
Reaffirming his dedication, the president expressed hope that the incoming leadership would preserve the dignity of pencak silat as a vital element of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and work toward securing its inclusion in the Olympic Games.
“Let us continue to protect and preserve pencak silat and take pride in it as part of the identity of the Indonesian nation,” he added.
Earlier, Prabowo officially announced his decision to step down from the IPSI Executive Board, citing his responsibilities as head of state. He urged the association to elect a capable successor to continue advancing the organization’s mission.
During the conference, Sugiono, Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, was elected by acclamation as the new IPSI chairman, with a mandate extending through 2030. In his remarks, Sugiono praised Prabowo’s significant contributions to the promotion and development of pencak silat and pledged to further strengthen its status both as a competitive sport and a symbol of national cultural heritage.
