Jakarta, July 11 -- President Prabowo Subianto revealed that in the past, he had ever blocked behind-the-scenes attempts by undisclosed parties to sell off Indonesia's strategic domestic defense industries to foreign buyers under the pretext of poor profitability.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Meninting Dam in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, he fiercely defended the state-owned defense companies, which he claims were systematically neglected and primed for liquidation.

"There were so many companies that seemed to want to be sold to foreigners, I forbade them!" President Prabowo declared on Friday (July 10).

"Previously, the defense industry wanted to be sold. PT PAL wanted to be sold, PT Pindad wanted to be sold, PT DI was kille...