The conciliatory remarks contrasted with President Prabowo Subianto's comments earlier this week, when he took aim at what he described as "intellectuals" of questioning the urgency of his signature free nutritious meal program.
President Prabowo Subianto (left) receives and signs a proposal submitted by academics on Sunday during the closing ceremony of the Indonesian Science, Technology and Industry Convention (KSTI) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
(Courtesy of/BPMI Setpres)
President Prabowo Subianto said he wants to engage more closely with the country's academics and pledged to review their proposals for improvement, marking a softer tone after previously brushing aside "intellectuals" for questioning his flagship programs."I received a long list of proposals and questions today. I promise to review them one by one," Prabowo said in his closing remarks at the Indonesian Science, Technology and Industry Convention (KSTI) in Jakarta on Sunday, attended by about 2,600 rectors, lecturers, researchers and scientists.
Arguing that the world's most successful organizations and countries are those that openly acknowledge and address their shortcomings, the President pledged to follow up on the reform proposals put forward at the event.
