Prabowo Asks Journalists to Leave During Speech to Academics

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto asked journalists to leave the room while he was delivering a speech to thousands of academics at the Science, Technology, and Industry Convention at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JCC) on Friday, June 26, 2026.

During the session, Prabowo addressed a range of topics, from the role of academics in national development to international affairs. The welcoming event, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), was initially open to media coverage for the first 30 minutes.

However, midway through his remarks, Prabowo invited journalists inside the convention hall to leave the room.

"With all due respect, I invite the journalists to have coffee outside. I believe Mr. Brian (Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto) has prepared good coffee for you," Prabowo said.

The Gerindra Party chairman said he wanted to speak more openly with the academics attending the event and did not want the discussion to be covered by the media.

"Journalists, with all due respect, media colleagues, today I want to speak heart to heart with the professors," he said.

Prabowo said he would share data and information he had gathered with the participants during the closed session.

Before asking the media to leave, Prabowo said academics are among the most important assets of a country. He argued that nations seeking progress must harness the potential and expertise of universities.

"If a country wants to rise and advance, it must utilize and mobilize the potential and capabilities of campuses and universities," Prabowo said.

He also claimed that his administration has involved academics in policymaking and emphasized the importance of unity among national leaders and elites to advance Indonesia.

The session, titled "National Dialogue," was part of the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention organized by Kemdiktisaintek. The three-day event carries the theme "Strategies for Indonesia’s Economic Self-Reliance and Prosperity."

Several government officials attended the event, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Read: Govt Responds to Jokowi's Two-Term Push for Prabowo-Gibran

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