Prabowo Explains Why He's Establishing URI Amid 'Deep State' Concerns

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revealed the motivation behind the establishment of Universitas Republik Indonesia (URI) during his interview on the Presiden Prabowo Menjawab program. The primary concern was the quality of human resources and coordination gaps among government institutions. URI aims to prepare future government leaders and administrators based on abilities and a merit-based system.

The president emphasized the need to address synchronization issues and gaps between institutions, stating that this challenge must be fixed. Institutional reform should encompass not only structural changes but also focus on the quality of personnel working within government bodies.

Prabowo elaborated on the role of URI, stating that it would include institutions focused on developing leadership and government administration. The National Institute of Public Administration (LAN) is one such institution, which he intends to revamp and integrate into the URI ecosystem. Originally created to prepare competent government administrators, LAN has reportedly shifted focus towards bureaucratic career progression.

Drawing inspiration from France's model, Prabowo advocated for institutions responsible for preparing government officials to maintain a rigorous selection process and adhere to a merit-based system. URI aims to attract the top graduates from universities nationwide, who will undergo rigorous training to ensure they understand their responsibilities and can align their work with government policies.

Addressing concerns about a "deep state," Prabowo defined it as a group of bureaucrats who believe they are beyond accountability due to long tenure in government positions. He emphasized the importance of ensuring there are no untouchable bureaucrats, citing instances where director generals were unable to be held accountable despite their affiliation with ministers or power holders.