The Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) considers President Prabowo Subianto's accusation that foreign parties fund non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to set Indonesia against each other to be untrue. "Because many NGOs are also funded by foreign parties to help the government and the community," said the Executive Director of WALHI South Sulawesi, Muhammad Al Amin, in a written statement, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Whether or not there is foreign funding, said Amin, NGOs will always be critical as long as the government makes policies that deviate from the expectations of the community. Amin said that the support of foreign institutions for NGOs in Indonesia, including WALHI South Sulawesi, was not to fight the government or to set Indonesia against each other.
On the contrary, Amin explained that the foreign funding support was to protect the ecosystem, protect the lives of the community, indigenous peoples, and women. "If NGOs, including my institution, are accused of pitting the community against the government, because they are funded by foreigners, I think that statement is very misleading," he said.
According to him, Prabowo should open up a constructive dialogue with every NGO. the goal is so that the head of state can know the wishes and hopes of NGOs for the government and the country's development plan.
Amin gave an example of WALHI's achievements to refute the president's accusations. For example, when restoring the Maros river basin or DAS, in South Sulawesi. In addition, said Amin, WALHI also tries to help the community so that they can work together with PT Eksploitasi and Industri Hutan or Inhutani and manage the land as additional income.
WALHI, said Amin, also works with young people and coastal communities to restore mangrove forests. "Is that divisive? We also conduct research and accompany the community so that people's livelihoods are not lost due to mining expansion. Is that pitting people against each other?" He considered Prabowo's accusations to be an emotional statement.
According to him, Prabowo should be proud because there are NGOs that still receive foreign funding to work to help the people. "So that NGOs do not burden the APBN which should be used to improve the welfare of the people."
President Prabowo Subianto's accusation was conveyed when giving a speech at the Pancasila Birth Day commemoration ceremony at the Pancasila Building, Central Jakarta, June 2, 2025.
Prabowo invited all Indonesian people to unite and not have differences that could cause clashes. He said this was what foreign nations expected because foreign powers did not like Indonesia to progress. "They have come for hundreds of years, they have set us against each other for hundreds of years, until now. With their money they fund NGOs to set us against each other. They say they are upholders of democracy, human rights, and press freedom, when in fact that is their own version," said Prabowo.