Prabowo Views Two Former Governors as Leadership Mentors

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto named two former governors, Benedictus Ben Mboi and Mohammad Noer, as his primary leadership mentors while reflecting on the first two years of his administration on Friday, August 7, 2026. Speaking at the Djakarta Theater in Jakarta Pusat during a book launch event, Prabowo outlined how lessons in basic governance, common love for the people, and food self-sufficiency continue to shape national policies under his leadership.

Mentorship from Former NTT Governor Benedictus Ben Mboi

Prabowo credited Benedictus Ben Mboi, who served as the Governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur from 1978 to 1988, with teaching him foundational statecraft. According to the President, his approach to policy relies heavily on basic common sense and affection for the public.

“Manakala keputusan yang kita ambil adalah didasari oleh cinta kepada rakyat dan akal sehat, kita tidak akan peleset,” Prabowo stated during the launch of the book titled “10 Karya Nyata untuk Negeri: Setengah Abad Bahlil Lahadalia”. He explained that this governance philosophy directly drives national initiatives such as downstream processing and agricultural self-sufficiency.

Lessons in Public Service from Cak Noer

The President also highlighted the influence of Mohammad Noer, widely known as Cak Noer, who governed East Java from 1967 to 1976. Prabowo recalled receiving final guidance from Cak Noer months before the former governor passed away.

Sharing the late governor’s advice, Prabowo noted that a leader’s core duty is to ensure the most vulnerable citizens can find hope. “Beliau cerita sama saya, ‘Prabowo, tugas pemimpin itu sebetulnya sederhana, bekerja yen wong cilik iso ngguyu’,” Prabowo recounted, emphasizing that leaders must work so that the poor and powerless can smile and laugh again.

Evaluating Two Years of Government Performance

The reflections on mentorship accompanied an upbeat assessment of Prabowo’s nearly two-year-old administration. The President asserted that his government holds sufficient real achievements to face the Indonesian public with complete confidence.

“Terus terang saja, saya dua tahun ini kita baru berprestasi, tapi saya kira dua tahun boleh lah kita ya, rapor kita oke ya menurut saya ya,” Prabowo said, assigning an approving mark to his executive tenure thus far.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the two former governors mentored by Prabowo Subianto?

The two former governors are Benedictus Ben Mboi, who led Nusa Tenggara Timur from 1978 to 1988, and Mohammad Noer (Cak Noer), who governed East Java from 1967 to 1976.

What event served as the venue for Prabowo’s remarks?

Prabowo made these statements at the launch of the book titled “10 Karya Nyata untuk Negeri: Setengah Abad Bahlil Lahadalia” held at the Djakarta Theater in Jakarta Pusat on Friday, August 7, 2026.

How did Prabowo characterize his administration’s performance?

Prabowo stated that his government has achieved real success during its nearly two years in office, giving his administration an approving performance grade and expressing full confidence when facing the Indonesian public.

How might these historical mentorship lessons continue to influence national food security and downstream policies in the remaining term of the administration?