Prabowo praises military, police for infrastructure service to Indonesian communities
President Prabowo Subianto commended TNI and Polri during the inauguration of thousands of bridges and clean water sources, emphasizing that public service by officials is monitored and remembered by the people.
Infrastructure ceremony highlights public service commitment
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized Thursday that the Indonesian public closely monitors and remembers the service provided by the military and police, as he inaugurated major infrastructure projects built by the armed forces across the country.
Speaking virtually from Merdeka Palace during a ceremony centered in Bayah Barat village, Lebak regency, Banten, Prabowo oversaw the commissioning of 3,395 bridges constructed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri), along with 3,000 clean water sources built by the Army. The president, who took office in October 2024 after winning 58.59 percent of the vote, has been in power for approximately 10 months.
Although you may not feel it, all good deeds, all good service by individuals, by officials, by leaders, are actually monitored, watched, recorded, and remembered by the people. Remember that.
Ambitious infrastructure targets
The bridges inaugurated represent substantial progress toward the government's broader infrastructure goals. TNI aims to complete 5,000 bridges and 6,000 clean water access points nationwide by the end of 2026. As of the August 13 ceremony, TNI had completed 2,500 bridges while Polri had finished 895.
The 895 police-built bridges span a combined length of 19.2 kilometers, connecting 1,314 villages across Indonesia and are expected to benefit approximately 2 million people. The clean water program builds on the Army's long-term efforts—since 2020, the force has opened clean water access at 7,217 locations across the archipelago, according to Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak.
The ceremony took place in Lebak regency, a district covering 3,481.35 square kilometers in Banten province with a population of 1.48 million as of mid-2023. The infrastructure projects align with Prabowo's policy directive to respond to actual community needs based on field surveys and media reports, with particular focus on hard-to-reach and remote areas.
People's army, people's police
Prabowo stressed that serving the public constitutes an essential component of TNI and Polri's duties. He praised soldiers and officers working across various regions, including areas difficult to access.
This is proof that the TNI is truly the people's TNI, and Polri is truly the people's police. This is something we must always remember.
He noted that both institutions were born from the people, struggle alongside them, and dedicate their efforts to public welfare.
According to Prabowo, the infrastructure projects demonstrate that military and police leaders understand the importance of working in the people's interests. The service also reflects Indonesia's spirit of unity and mutual cooperation in nation-building.
Today I am proud, today I am truly moved. Today we prove that Indonesia is a truly united nation, a nation of mutual cooperation, a nation capable of drawing on our own strength to work as hard as possible for the prosperity and well-being of the people.
The infrastructure development efforts come as Prabowo implements his first fully independent state budget for 2026, projecting revenues of IDR 3,153.6 trillion (US$190 billion) and spending of IDR 3,842.7 trillion (US$230 billion).