PEMALANG, BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE — President Prabowo Subianto’s real commitment to supporting the small community was once again seen through the handover of 25 units of electric tricycles to elderly pedicab drivers at the pavilion of Pemalang Regency, Central Java. The activity that took place on Thursday afternoon (17/07/2025) was a continuation of a similar program previously carried out in Pamekasan Regency, Sampang Regency, Sumenep Regency, Bangkalan Regency, Madura Island, on Monday (14/07/2025).
This program is a personal initiative of the President and does not use funds from the government budget. The entire purchase of electric tricycles is directly financed by President Prabowo using personal funds as well as operational funds that are his rights as Head of State. Although the ordering of the units was done through the State Secretariat, all financing came from non-APBN sources.
Head of the Poverty Alleviation Acceleration Agency (BP Taskin), Budiman Sudjatmiko, emphasized that this program was born from the President’s sincere concern for vulnerable groups of society, especially those who still depend on heavy work in their old age (60 to 70 years old). “This assistance is not from a government program. This is purely a personal initiative of Mr. President,” said Budiman. He also emphasized the importance of support from local governments, including in terms of providing charging facilities, so that the benefits of electric tricycles can be felt sustainably.
Budiman added that apart from Pemalang, the distribution of electric tricycles today was also carried out simultaneously in Pekalongan City, Tegal City, and Batang Regency, with each region receiving 25 units of electric tricycles. Each unit is worth around Rp23 million. Before being put into use, the beneficiaries are required to undergo technical training covering operation, maintenance, and charging.
The implementation of this program is entrusted to Yayasan Gerakan Solidaritas Nasional (YGSN), a social institution established directly by the President. YGSN works closely with BP Taskin and local governments to ensure that the distribution is on target. In Pemalang Regency, the local government played an active role in the data collection and implementation process in the field.
Chairman of YGSN, Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Teguh Arief, stated that this program is part of the President’s big vision to help all manual pedicab drivers in Indonesia. “This is not just about providing assistance, but also an effort of social transformation. Our target is to distribute up to 10,000 electric pedicabs in stages by the end of this year,” he said.
The Deputy Regent of Pemalang, Nurkholes, S.H., M.Si., expressed his appreciation for the assistance. “This assistance is very much in line with our regional program. We thank you for your attention and concern for the small communities in Pemalang,” he said.
Rasidin, a resident of RT 04 RW 05 Kebondalem Village, Pemalang Subdistrict, one of the beneficiaries, expressed his emotion and gratitude on behalf of his colleagues. “We are very grateful. This electric tricycle greatly eases the burden on us who are no longer strong enough to pedal. Thank you to Mr. President for the assistance,” he said. He also added, “With this electric tricycle, we can compete a little with online motorcycle taxis around the market.”
For information, until the end of 2024, President Prabowo has distributed 450 electric tricycles while still serving as Minister of Defense. In 2025, he ordered an additional 1,000 units, of which 260 have been completed and started to be distributed to various regions, including East Java and Madura.
In the spirit of sustainability, the President also plans to collaborate with more MSMEs and local manufacturers so that the distribution target of 10,000 units of electric tricycles can be achieved by the end of 2025. More than just a means of transportation, this program is a form of empowerment, respect, and an effort to ease the burden on those who remain faithful to pedaling the wheels of city life – the pedicab drivers.
