This article reveals that Indonesia’s president-elect for 2024-2029, Prabowo Subianto, played a significant role in founding SMA Taruna Nusantara, a prestigious high school in the country. The proposal for the establishment of the school was co-written by Prabowo and Dirgayuza Setiawan’s late father, Dr. Boyke Setiawan, in 1988. The document was recently found in Dr. Boyke’s personal archives and was submitted to the Minister of Defense and Security and the president at the time.
The proposal emphasized the importance of education, particularly in science and technology, as a way to contribute to the nation’s development. It highlighted the rich resources and talented young individuals in Indonesia and the need to provide them with suitable education. The vision for SMA Taruna Nusantara was to offer the infrastructure and facilities for the nation’s best and brightest to develop their talents for the benefit of the country’s future development.
The initials “PS” and “BS” found in the document referred to Prabowo Subianto and Boyke Setiawan, respectively. Dirgayuza, who shared this story, has edited several of Prabowo’s books, while his father was a retired TNI officer and a trusted advisor to Prabowo.
This revelation sheds light on Prabowo Subianto’s contribution to education and nation-building in Indonesia through the establishment of SMA Taruna Nusantara.