Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia During Grand Harvest, in Indramayu Regency, West Java Province, October 13, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
We have a good rice harvest as I think the technical irrigation in Subang and Indramayu is still excellent. I have asked the farmers and they told me that they could harvest 8-9 tons per hectare, an average of 8.6 tons per hectare. And the grain price, all farmers are happy about it. It’s is now Rp7,300, Rp7,400, Rp7,200. All farmers are now happy although the consumers are not.

Reporter
Could the rice price be pushed down, Pak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I directly monitor to the field to ensure that the production is still good, but it does drop because of the Super El Nino. But it is still good so there’s nothing to worry about and there’s no need to think that it’s terrible, no. The production is still good although it is slightly affected by the Super El Nino.

Reporter
Is the rice reserve enough?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
We have 1.7 [million tons] of rice reserves in State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and we’ll get around 500-600 thousand tons more. It means our food reserve is still safe, but we need to distribute the rice to the markets so the price can gradually drop.

Reporter
Out of topic, Pak. Mas Gibran is rumored to be the most potential candidate for Pak Prabowo’s Vice President… (inaudible).

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I’ve never met him for several months.

Reporter
There is an opinion that Jokowi’s dynasty is in the making. What do you think about it?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I’ll leave it up to the public.

Reporter
What is your opinion on Mr. Syahrul Yasin Limpo being forcibly picked up?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes, we must respect the legal process at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Police, and the Prosecutor’s Office. It is a legal process that must be followed.

Reporter
There is a speculation that it is politicized because the examination is supposed to be done today, but he was picked up last night.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
There must be some reasons why the KPK accelerates the process. We must respect the legal process at the KPK.

Reporter
When will the definitive minister be appointed, Pak? It is urgent to tackle the impacts of El Nino.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Not yet.

Reporter
For the Thermal Power Plant 2, what is the plan for its development as the funding from Japan is already cut?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
We always support everything related to the national electricity supply. But now, we are shifting to the green energy, hydropower, solar panels, I believe there is a big one that we will inaugurate in Cirata. Then we also have wind power, geothermal. Those are our priority. For building thermal power plant, it has to be super critical. I believe all the standards have been understood by Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Reporter
About the Interim West Java Governor being reported by Ombudsman, Pak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Let him learn his lesson. There must be an argument for reporting someone. They will… why he made such policies. There must be some reasons, legal basis. There must be reasons, I’m sure.

(AY/MEP)