Prabowo Subianto‘s Singapore Visit: Childhood Memories and Honoring His Mother

Singapore – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Singapore on June 16, 2025, was marked by reflections on his personal history with the nation and a heartfelt tribute to his mother. During a leaders’ retreat with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Prabowo shared anecdotes from his childhood spent in Singapore and expressed his deep gratitude for the country’s progress since its independence.

A Warm Welcome and Childhood Reflections

President Prabowo Subianto began by thanking the singaporean government for their warm reception and congratulating Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on his re-election. He also expressed his gratitude for the honor of naming a Singaporean orchid [[National Parks Board, Singapore]].

Did you Know? Singapore’s National Orchid Garden is a leading center for orchid research and plays a vital role in the country’s horticultural industry.

“I want to thank the President of Singapore for receiving me and my delegation. We also held a very productive meeting,telephone calls,and I was very touched for being given the honor to name the unique orchids,” Prabowo stated at the meeting held at Parliament house,Singapore.

Honoring His Mother: Dora Sigar Soemitro

Prabowo chose to name the orchid after his mother, Dora sigar Soemitro, as a sign of respect and gratitude for her dedication in raising him. He acknowledged the challenges he presented during his youth and credited his mother’s unwavering support for his eventual success, culminating in his presidency.

“I was given the honor to nominate a name and I ran for my mother’s name to pay homage to him for raising me, for raising a boy who might be difficult in the youth. he became President of Indonesia,” he explained.

Singapore’s Success: A Source of Admiration

Reflecting on his personal connection to singapore, Prabowo revealed that he spent several formative years in the country during his childhood. He lauded Singapore’s remarkable development and achievements since its early years of independence, emphasizing the value of emulating the positive aspects of Singapore’s model.

Pro Tip: Singapore’s economic success is frequently enough attributed to its strategic location, strong governance, and focus on innovation and education.

“Prime Minister, I want to admit to you that I spend several years as a boy here,” he shared.”I witnessed the early days of Singapore and to be honest, I always admire the success of Singapore and especially the success of the early singapore leaders, leadership, his statesmanship.”

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

President Prabowo subianto’s visit underscores the importance of the relationship between Indonesia and Singapore. This visit, his first state visit since assuming office in October 2024, signifies a commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and fostering closer ties between the two nations [[1]].

The leaders’ retreat provided a platform for discussions on various areas of mutual interest, including economic partnerships and regional cooperation. The focus on a green economy also signals a forward-looking approach to lasting development [[3]].

What aspects of Singapore’s success do you think other nations should emulate? How can strong bilateral relationships contribute to regional stability and prosperity?

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