Jakarta, May 20 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday ordered state-owned banks to lower lending rates for low-income borrowers, saying poorer Indonesians currently pay higher interest rates than large businesses.

"The poor are being asked to pay higher interest rates than big businessmen," Prabowo said during a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta.

"I order government banks to change this," he said, adding that the current lending structure was unfair and urged banks under the State-Owned Banks Association (Himbara) to strengthen their social commitment and support grassroots economic empowerment.

He said large corporations with strong capital access should seek financing from commercial and...