Portrait of Prabowo Subianto
Politician · country
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Prabowo Subianto on Singapore

Diplomatic Pragmatist (strong)

TL;DR

Prabowo Subianto strongly admires Singapore's governance and is committed to copying its successful policies for Indonesia's national benefit.

Key Points

  • He explicitly stated that Indonesia is allowed to "copy with pride" successful Singaporean policies, such as housing programs and the sovereign wealth fund model.

  • During his first State Visit in June 2025, he emphasized that Singapore-Indonesia relations were in excellent shape and sought to chart even stronger ties.

  • He recalled spending his youth in Singapore and expressed deep appreciation for its success and the statesmanship of its early leaders.

Summary

Prabowo Subianto, as President of Indonesia, views Singapore with significant admiration, emphasizing a commitment to learning from and implementing its successful governance models. He explicitly stated that in real life, one is allowed to "copy best practice," referring to Singapore's achievements in areas such as public housing and the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, which Indonesia has emulated with its own versions. This stance is rooted in his personal history, as he spent part of his youth in Singapore and witnessed its early development, leading to a deep respect for the leadership and statesmanship demonstrated by its early leaders.

This positive relationship is continually reinforced through high-level diplomatic engagement, particularly the annual Leaders' Retreat, which serves as the highest platform for bilateral cooperation. His administration prioritizes strengthening ties across various sectors, including defense, airspace management, economic investment, and collaboration on green economy initiatives. The ongoing bilateral cooperation, which sees Singapore as a top investor in Indonesia, underscores the strategic necessity and mutual benefit of maintaining close partnership between the two neighboring nations.

Key Quotes

“As you may be aware, I am not a newcomer to Singapore. As a young man, I grew up in Singapore. So, I know the early days of Singapore. I was in Singapore when Singapore was still a British colony,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Prabowo Subianto holds a decidedly positive view of Singapore, rooted in his personal history of living there as a boy. As president, he champions close bilateral ties and openly admires the nation's successful governance models, such as its public housing and wealth fund management.

Yes, he has strongly expressed a desire to emulate Singapore, stating that copying best practices is allowed and should be done with pride. Specific examples he cited for Indonesia to copy include the structure of Singapore's housing provision and the creation of its own sovereign wealth fund.

During his State Visit in June 2025, President Prabowo affirmed that relations were in excellent shape and highly valued the partnership. He highlighted that collaboration is not just a strategic need but aligns with mutual national interests, leading to 19 deliverables during the Leaders' Retreat.

Sources6

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.