SEAToday.com, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has urged ministry officials to reduce international travel, including seminars and study visits. He made this statement during his speech at the launch of the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

"Since many ministers are present, I ask you not to let your members travel abroad too much. If you want to go abroad, use your own money. So, cut back on seminars and work visits. What do you need to study?" Prabowo said.

He emphasized that the issues facing Indonesia are quite clear and do not require excessive study visits. However, he acknowledged that implementing this request is not easy, especially for political party leaders.

Prabowo shared his experience as the chairman of the Gerindra Party, where members often sought permission to travel abroad. He recalled a few years ago when five members of a local parliament from Gerindra asked for permission to go on a study visit abroad.

"At that time, I had already issued a policy for party members to limit foreign travel. I won’t mention the specific region, but it was east of Banyuwangi. Five members of the local parliament came to see me. They said, 'Please, Sir, since you've already restricted travel abroad.' It turned out these five had just been elected to the local parliament on that island," Prabowo recounted.

He continued, "But they looked so pitiful. Just imagine, these Gerindra members were usually leaders of farmers' groups. They told me, 'We’ve never been abroad, we’ve never seen the outside world.' Eventually, I said, 'Okay, this time will be the last.' So off they went."

Prabowo urged ministers and political party leaders to convince their subordinates to restrain their international travel and focus more on addressing domestic issues affecting the people.

"The main issue now is that we need to concentrate on tackling the difficulties faced by our people. So, I ask you to convince all our members to reduce their trips abroad," he stated.