President Prabowo holds a closed cabinet meeting on education, labour and geopolitics

President Prabowo Subianto convenes a limited meeting with members of the Merah Putih Cabinet at his Hambalang residence in West Java, May 2, 2026. (BPMI Setpres/Rusman)

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto summoned ministers and security officials to his private neighbourhood in Hambanlang, Bogor, for a restricted meeting on May 2.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that the gathering aimed to streamline the agendas of the central and local governments. He wrote, “this meeting involved an in-depth discussion on the development of various national strategic issues to alignthe government’s policy direction.”

The meeting covered a broad range of topics, including the evolving geopolitical landscape and Indonesia’s role in safeguarding national development agendas.

Domestic priorities dominated the discussion. Aligning with Indonesia’s National Education Day, Prabowo underscored the role of higher educational institutions—particularly engineering faculties—in advancing local development and supporting national programmes.

Labour issues were also a key focus—following the President’s attendance at the May Day rallies on May 1, where 400,000 workers and students gathered at the National Monument (Monas) and outside the Parliamentary buildings. During the demonstrations, Prabowo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening labour protections, especially through the ratification of the Domestic Worker Protection Act.

In addition, Prabowo announced Presidential Regulation No. 25 of 2026, signed on May 1, as a “gift” for International Labour Day. This regulation ratifies International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 188 on global standards for work in the fishing sector. He also emphasised plans to inaugurate 1,386 Fisher Villages in 2026 to improve coastal infrastructure.

Notably, the restricted meeting brought together some defence and security establishments, including Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Armed Forces Chief General Agus Subiyanto, Strategic Intelligence Agency head Herindra, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Deputy Armed Forces Chief General Tandyo Budi Revita, Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak and Navy Chief Muhammad Ali.

Also present were Foreign Minister Sugiono, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Head of the Communication Office Qodari, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Angga Raka Prabowo, Minister of Higher Education and Science Brian Yuliarto, Pindad President Director Sigit Puji Santosa and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

The composition of attendees underscores the administration’s effort to align security, economic and social policies within a centralised decision-making framework.