Indonesia’s new president and ministers embark on a military-style retreat, including morning exercises

MAGELANG, Indonesia (AP) —

The recently inaugurated President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and his ministers began a military-style retreat Friday at a military academy in Java province.

Wearing military fatigues, from camouflage hats and clothing to combat boots, the ministers began their retreat to Indonesia’s National Military Academy, surrounded by mountains, in the city of Magelang.

The ministers and their deputies traveled to Central Java on Thursday with the Indonesian Air Force aircraft, the Hercules C-130J.

According to a written statement from the Prabowo Media Team, the group was asked to wake up at 4 a.m. to do sports activities and marching exercises.

The 73-year-old former general said in his opening speech at the academy on Friday that he does not intend to form a military cabinet, but wanted to emphasize that the “military path” is usually followed in government and even in companies to ensure discipline and loyalty. align with the nation and the state.

“I didn’t ask you to be loyal to Prabowo. I ask you to be loyal to our country and our nation, Indonesia,” Subianto said.

In addition to the retreat, he also held a briefing with his cabinet on various topics, including the focus and commitment of each ministry and institution to work towards eradicating poverty, fighting corruption and achieving self-sufficiency in food and energy .

Subianto is not the first president of Indonesia with a military background. Suharto and the sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, were also retired army generals who led the country. However, this unconventional retreat was the first held during Subianto’s first term.

Subianto was inaugurated on Sunday as the new president of Southeast Asia’s largest economy. He has sworn an oath in his cabinet 109 members, This makes it the largest since 1966.