Magelang. President Prabowo Subianto led his Red and White Cabinet on a four-day retreat at the Military Academy (Akmil) in Magelang, Central Java, adopting a militaristic approach that was positively received by ministers primarily from civilian backgrounds.

On Thursday, the ministers were transported via Hercules military aircraft instead of chartered planes, marking a first-time experience for many participants, which added excitement to the trip, according to presidential spokesman Hasan Nasbi. The 109 ministers, presidential advisers, special envoys, and heads of agencies directly under the president engaged in lively conversations and took group selfies to commemorate this memorable occasion, likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Instead of staying in luxury hotels, the cabinet members camped in tents and wore military uniforms, waking up at 5 a.m. to military horns before participating in marching drills.

In the afternoon, President Prabowo led a national flag-lowering ceremony, riding in a tactical vehicle known as Maung, as the first day of the retreat concluded on Friday. Despite the pouring rain during the ceremony, Prabowo emphasized that a leader must set a good example for their troops, referencing the Javanese philosophy "Ing Ngarso Sung Tulodho," which means a leader should be at the forefront and lead by example.

"Our leadership principle is ing ngarso sung tulodo (to lead by example), if the subordinates are wet, the leader must also be wet. If they are hot, the leader must feel the heat too. If they are hungry, the leader must also feel hunger. That is our principle of leadership," he said.

For the ministers, this militaristic tradition provided a new experience.

Stella Christie, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, expressed her enthusiasm and inspiration from participating in the retreat. She explained that President Prabowo urged members of the Red and White Cabinet to continue fostering teamwork.

"I think exercising together and living together is very effective," the Tsinghua University professor added, confident that the results of the retreat would benefit the future.

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said that the retreat was beneficial for aligning visions and facilitating mission execution. "I think this activity is very good for organizing our ranks, unifying our vision, and making it easier to achieve our mission," he remarked.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia admitted that the early morning wake-up rules at Akmil were a bit troublesome and outside of his usual routine. "Waking up early was a bit challenging for me; I usually sleep at 2 a.m., wake up at 5 a.m., and then sleep again until 7 a.m.," he explained.

He acknowledged that the strict wake-up time at Akmil does not allow for returning to sleep after early morning hours but recognized the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle. "But it is good that life is disciplined; the responsibility to the state means that whether you sleep for one hour or two, you must be ready when duty calls," he asserted.

Chief Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) reminisced about his time at Akmil, expressing a desire to carry military values into governance. He shared his reflections on Instagram, stating, "Praise God, I am now entrusted with a role in the government. Hopefully, the values of leadership, military service, patriotism, and nationalism that I gained at the Military Academy will continue to guide me in all my service."

The Red and White Cabinet retreat on Saturday will include three sessions focusing on topics such as palm oil biodiesel (B100), food estates, and strategic reviews. After the sessions, President Prabowo and the cabinet members are scheduled to attend an evening of camaraderie featuring collaborative dance performances by Akmil cadets from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.

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