Birthday Gift, Family Reconciliation, and One Year of Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White Cabinet
Author, Jacob Ereste
Freelance Journalist
Spiritually, President Prabowo Subianto is clearly mature enough to act in the best interests of his nation, state, and family. He no longer needs praise, but rather prioritizes concrete actions that are more beneficial for the greater good. This will be his and his family’s legacy, to be remembered forever.
The eternal historical monument he has built today, during his sincere and honest service to power, today and in the future, may become part of the eternal decoration of a tombstone whose beauty is impossible for everyone to possess. Because this beautiful tombstone will surely one day stand alongside the monuments of his family, which began with Grandfather Margono Djojohadikoesoemo and his father—the unparalleled Indonesian Economic Sage in this country—Prof. Dr. Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo. Likewise, the families of Regowo Hadiprasetyo, Didit Hadiprasetyo, and Titiek Soeharto (wife), and Hashim Djoyohadikoesoemo are also considered successful and established, making them very confident in doing their best for this country. At the very least, they no longer seek to simply exploit the situation for personal gain and for their families, who are already more than capable of being considered established and successful in various areas of life.
Similarly, Prabowo Subianto’s older siblings, Bianti Djojohadikoesoemo and George Djojohadikoesoemo (deceased), have lived abroad for extended periods. This means that Prabowo Subianto’s three siblings, a respected and influential family in the fields of economics, business, and politics, clearly inherited the legacy of their father, an economic sage, and their grandfather, a prominent figure in the early history of the Republic of Indonesia—a freedom fighter, statesman, and pioneer of the national economy.
Margono Djojohadikoesoemo was the Founder and first Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) since its inception on July 5, 1946, during his time in Yogyakarta, and has since become a symbol of the economic sovereignty of this country’s independence. His grandfather even served as the first Chairman of Indonesia’s Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), specifically advising President Soekarno in determining state policy at that time. He then became a Diplomat and Indonesian Representative in International Negotiations. Of course, Prabowo Subianto’s grandfather was a Member of the Round Table Conference, which was a milestone in the history of the Republic of Indonesia after independence. And even before that, Margono Djojohadikoesoemo was also listed as a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI).
The spirit of struggle and heroism that flows strongly in Prabowo Subianto’s body and soul is certainly inherited from his father—who was also noted as a true fighter who stood firmly in the PPRI (Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia) movement in 1958, despite being a civilian and an intellectual, not a military man, who disagreed with the domination of political and economic power by the central government—Jakarta—by President Soekarno. The PPRI movement clearly expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of regional economic resources, as well as rejection of President Soekarno’s excessively preferential treatment of the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party). Although Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo was labeled a rebel due to his ideological choices and economic ideals, after more than 10 years of exile, reconciliation with the New Order was initiated, and rehabilitation was achieved, leading to Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo’s trust. He served as Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade, and Minister of Research directly under President Soeharto.
The fighting spirit of the Margono Djojohadikoesoemo lineage is also evident in Prabowo Subianto’s two uncles who died in the Indonesian struggle for independence: First Lieutenant Subianto Djojohadikoesoemo, who died with the rank of Captain posthumously. And Sujono Djojohadikoesoemo, a military cadet who died alongside Captain Subianto during the battle of Lengkong Village, Serpong, South Tangerang on January 24, 1946. Prabowo himself chose the military as his primary career—as a full general—and once led an elite force that the Indonesian people are proud of, Kopassus (Special Forces Command), which successfully built its beautiful complex in East Jakarta. General Prabowo Subianto’s reputation is displayed with dignity and prestige as Commander General of Kopassus from 1995 to 1998.
This means that within the same lineage, originating from the Javanese priyayi class, Strong and steadfast, known for his deep national roots and forward-thinking, and always siding with the people, it seems this basic capital is more than enough to convince Prabowo Subianto to be President of the Republic of Indonesia.
Sri Eko Sriyanto Galgendu, who inherited the intelligence of President Soekarno and President Soeharto, truly assured him that he would do his best for the people of the country he leads today.
This presentation is important not only as a birthday present for Prabowo Subianto on his 74th birthday and to mark his first year in the Red and White Cabinet, but also as an expression of joy for a family reconciliation that is sakinah (tranquility and peace), mawaddah (full of love), and warahmah (compassion) for the people and their families.**
Banten, October 19, 2025
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