PRIME NEWS POST 

BANDUNG – Dozens of 1998 reformasi activists from Lingkar 98 West Java together with the 98 Resolution Network held a movement consolidation and press conference at a venue in Bandung on Monday (6/7/2026). Representatives of the 1998 generation called on fellow reformists to reflect on 28 years of democratic progress, noting gaps between political and economic change.

Lingkar 98 West Java and the Resolution Network assessed that the 1998 movement has yet to fulfil its full potential, particularly as political democratisation has not proceeded in step with economic equity – creating what they described as “faux democracy.”

“Over decades of reform, natural resources have been concentrated in the hands of a small elite we call serakahnomics. This hijacks both political democracy and the fundamental livelihoods of the people,” said Agus Teddy Sumantri, Spokesperson for the 98 Resolution Network.

As supporters of the Prabowo-Gibran administration, Lingkar 98 West Java emphasised that Indonesia’s democracy must be rooted in socio-democracy, not a Western liberal model that limits choice to the ballot box while excluding communities from shared national wealth.

“Western-style democracy ignores public access to the nation’s resources. Yet Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution explicitly mandates that natural resources be managed by the state for the greatest welfare of all people,” added Teddy, former West Java Chairman of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team.

8-POINT POSITION STATEMENT: LINGKAR 98 WEST JAVA & 98 RESOLUTION NETWORK

Activist Agustin Lumban Gaol outlined eight core positions addressing Indonesia’s national challenges:

1. Upstream Anti-Corruption Action
The groups fully back President Prabowo’s mandate to “seize corrupt assets for public subsidies.” Concrete steps include:

– Rp13.25 trillion seized in the CPO/Wilmar Group case;
– Rp11.42 trillion in fines for illegal forest encroachment;
– Rp920 billion plus 51 kg of gold confiscated from broker MA Zarof Ricar;
– Ongoing action against oil-and-gas mafia figure Riza Chalid.

“These funds will build public schools, fishing villages, and other community infrastructure. To deter repeat offences, we urge judges to impose maximum sentences – at minimum life imprisonment – on anyone corrupting the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Such acts betray the people, the state, and the President’s trust,” Agustin stated.

2. Comprehensive Anti-Corruption Approach
Coordinator Hadi Gunadi noted that anti-corruption efforts now target revenue leakage, resource mismanagement, and concession abuse – not just budget embezzlement. “This government has curbed an estimated Rp100 trillion per year in miss-invoicing and Rp75 trillion in transfer pricing practices,” he explained.

3. Forest and Land Regularisation
Aligning with agrarian reform and Article 33, Presidential Regulation No. 5/2025 established the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH). It has reclaimed 5.9 million hectares – 5.88 million hectares of illegally held oil palm and 12,371 hectares of mining concessions – for redistribution through community cooperatives. “We demand full transparency in how these lands are managed,” Gunadi said.

4. Upholding Anti-Leakage Principles
All stakeholders must uphold Article 33’s mandate for efficiency and integrity. “We will guard against misusing the President’s good intentions simply to shift corruption from one sector to another,” Gunadi warned.

5. Restructuring the State Budget
President Prabowo has reshaped the APBN to prioritise public welfare, reallocating Rp234 trillion in stagnant regional transfers and corrupt spending to the MBG programme. The groups criticised neoliberal critics who label this “budget burning” or “market distortion.” “Following the BGN corruption scandal, we urge an immediate governance review,” said H. Irwan Koesandiantoro.

6. Education Budget Increased
Claims that education funding was cut for MBG are false. Education spending meets the constitutional 20% mandate:

– Ministry-level allocation: Rp116 trillion in 2026;
– Central government education spending up Rp28.5 trillion, covering teacher pay, scholarships, BOS, PIP, and KIP;
– Regional education funds up Rp6.7 trillion;
– Education investment up Rp2.9 trillion for endowment funds.

“MBG funding comes entirely from efficiency savings in non-education regional transfers, which fell Rp233 trillion year-on-year,” Irwan clarified.

7. Critical Support Against Neoliberalism
The groups respect legitimate criticism, including reviews of MBG governance, but noted an “anomaly” where social movements adopt neoliberal stances – attacking welfare spending while framing SOE-led economic empowerment as “market distortion.” President Prabowo’s vision, outlined in his National Awakening Day address, is clear: build economic sovereignty, stop resource leakage, eradicate corruption, and use the budget for the common good. “The responsible path now is to offer critical support to the President,” said Muhammad Ikbal Audah.

8. Unity Amid Geopolitical Pressure
Rising global uncertainty requires national unity. Political freedoms must serve shared prosperity, not division. “We will continue dialogue to explain these policies and monitor their implementation,” Ikbal added.

The groups also back other flagship initiatives: fishing villages, national food self-sufficiency, and Red-White Village Cooperatives. “We remind policymakers to ensure all programmes remain accountable, transparent, and fully justifiable to the public,” Ikbal concluded.

Initiators: Lingkar 98 West Java & 98 Resolution Network

1. Agus Teddy Sumantri (Spokesperson, 98 Resolution Network)
2. Agustin Lumban Gaol (98 Resolution Network)
3. Hadi Gunadi
4. H. Irwan Koesandiantoro
5. Muhammad Ikbal Audah
6. Muhammad Afif Reza
7. Diki Winandi
8. Dadan Kudratullah
9. Tommy Siswanto
10. Yuda Suparman
11. Hildawati Iskandar
12. Muhammad Farid
13. Hj. Nenden Nur’Aeni
14. Hamzah Rivai
15. A.M. Yusuf
16. Heryadi
17. Lita Hartika
18. Handiyono Aruman
19. M. Suripto
20. Encep Saepudin
21. Chevy Epy Saepudin
22. Edi Permana
23. Memet Rahmat
24. Muh. Faiz
25. Asep Riyadi
26. Deding Zamah Syari
27. Aceng Roni S.
28. Budi Hermansyah
29. Arif Bambang
30. Tody Ardiansyah Prabu

Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper
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