Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of the Andir Retention Basin, Cieunteung Retention Basin, and Cisangkuy Floodway in Bandung Regency, and Kopo Flyover in Bandung City, March 5, 2023
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Distinguished Cabinet Ministers, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Minister of State Secretary;
Distinguished Leaders and Members of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Aji and Mr. Anang. Thank you for coming;
Distinguished Deputy Governor of West Java Province, Mayor of Bandung, and all Regents;
Distinguished President Director and Leaders of SOEs, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing personnel,
Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests;
Dear children, good afternoon.
This afternoon, we are going to inaugurate the retention basin to control flooding. All of you are aware that in the past, every time heavy rain fell in Bandung and its surroundings, flooding would occur. Now, we have the retention basins. There are three projects that we are going to inaugurate, namely Cisangkuy floodway, Cieunteung retention basin, and Andir retention basin.
In Cisangkuy, the project spent the budget of Rp632 billion, Cieunteung retention basin spent the budget of Rp204 billion, and Andir retention basin spent the budget of Rp142 billion. The budget was very big. To overcome traffic jam in Bandung city and to expedite traffic in Bandung city, we have built a Kopo Flyover worth Rp288 billion. The total budget for the projects, carried out by the Central Government for Bandung city and Bandung regency, was Rp1.26 trillion. Are you surprised?
Now, please raise your hand. What is the function of the retention basin? Raise your hand, I am going to pick one to come forward. All right, please come here.
What is the function of the Andir retention basin that we see today?
Please introduce yourself. What is your name?
Rizki Alghifari (Elementary School Student)
Rizki Alghifari.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Rizki. What grade are you in?
Rizki Alghifari (Elementary School Student)
I’m a fifth grader.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
You are a fifth grader.
What is the function of Andir retention basin?
Rizki Alghifari (Elementary School Student)
To prevent flooding.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
To prevent flooding. Please repeat your answer.
Rizki Alghifari (Elementary School Student)
To prevent flooding.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All right. Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, is his answer correct? All right. Please take the bike. Do we have bicycles here? All right, we have bicycles. Please take the bike.
What causes flooding? All right, please come here. What is your name?
Bintang (Elementary School Student)
Bintang
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bintang?
Bintang (Elementary School Student)
Yes.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bintang, what grade are you in?
Bintang (Elementary School Student)
Grade 6th.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Grade 6th of Elementary School.
What was the question?
Bintang (Elementary School Student)
What causes flooding?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What causes flooding?
Bintang (Elementary School Student)
Because the people litter…
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Because the people litter…
All right, your answer is correct. Please take the bike.
Now, those at the back, please answer my question. What causes traffic jam? Please come here.
You have raised your hand. What is your name?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
My name is Rafael Abraham Christian Pakpahan from SMPN 1 Baleendah.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What is your nickname?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
My nickname is El.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
El. The question is: What causes traffic jam?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
Because of the air pollution or because of… traffic jam occurs because of…
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What causes traffic jam? We drive cars, we use vehicles, then we have traffic jam. What causes traffic jam?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
Because of the crowded situation. Sir. Because of….
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Because of…? Calm down, your previous answer was right. Because of the crowded situation, right?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
Because of the crowded situation.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What causes the crowded situation?
Rafael Abraham Christian (Junior High School Student)
Because there are lots of cars and motorbikes.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Because there are lots of cars and motorbikes, so we have traffic jam. Is the answer correct, Mr. Mayor? The answer is correct. Please take the bike. It seems that you are nervous, so you forget the answer.
Ladies and gentlemen, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I inaugurate Andir retention basin, Cieunteung retention basin, and Cisangkuy floodway in Bandung regency, and Kopo flyover in Bandung city, West Java province.
I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
(RI/MMB)