Prabowo Praises Police Chief Listyo on Bhayangkara Day, Urges Police to Stay Grounded with the People
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — President Prabowo Subianto has expressed strong appreciation for the leadership of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, calling his performance “commendable” during the 79th anniversary celebration of Bhayangkara Day at Jakarta’s National Monument (Monas) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Delivering his first Bhayangkara Day address as President, Prabowo highlighted the Indonesian National Police’s (Polri) efforts to remain close to the public, especially under General Listyo’s direction.
“Today, I express my appreciation for the leadership of the National Police, especially to the Chief of Police and the entire leadership,” said Prabowo in his address at the ceremony, held on Tuesday morning.
Prabowo praised the institution’s current orientation, noting a more grassroots and participatory approach to public safety.
“I see the police are genuinely engaging with the people,” he said, referring to Polri’s initiatives to be actively present in communities and even supporting food production efforts.
He emphasized that Indonesia’s police force should not emulate the posture of law enforcement agencies in wealthy, advanced nations.
“The Indonesian police must not act like the police of rich countries,” Prabowo declared. “They must live among the people, feel their struggles, understand their hardship, and listen to their cries.”
Ceremony at Monas Draws National Figures
Earlier that morning, President Prabowo arrived at Monas in a white Maung Garuda official vehicle, welcomed by top police officials and state dignitaries. He led the formal ceremony as inspektur upacara (ceremonial inspector), while Police Education and Training Institute Head Commissioner General Dadang Hartanto served as parade commander.
The event featured 14 National Police regiments and 14 civil society units, with thousands in attendance. Distinguished guests included Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, former Presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Try Sutrisno, as well as former Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Shinta Nuriyah Wahid, wife of late President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Chairwoman of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani and Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly Ahmad Muzani also joined the commemorations.
“Indonesia on the Brink of a National Awakening”
In his speech, Prabowo invoked a nationalistic tone, asserting that the country stands on the threshold of a new era. He called on the police to act as “frontline guardians” of the nation's wealth and people’s welfare.
“We are on the brink of a national awakening. The police must stand as a resilient institution—strong and untouchable,” he said, urging officers not to be compromised “by anyone.”
Public Celebration and Rp 1 Fares Across Jakarta
To mark the occasion, Jakarta’s local government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, introduced a symbolic Rp 1 ($0.00006) fare for all rides on Transjakarta, MRT Jakarta, and LRT Jakarta services—excluding LRT Jabodebek—for one day only.
The promotion, which ran from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, was part of a broader public celebration. Nearly 3,000 joint personnel from the police, military, Jakarta administration, and other agencies were deployed to secure the event.