President Jokowi Opens Extraordinary National Meeting of Golkar Party

President Jokowi accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Golkar Party Chairman Aburizal Bakrie officially opens the Extraordinary National Meeting of Golkar Party, on Saturday (14/5), at the BNDCC, Bali

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla attended the opening ceremony of the Extraordinary National Meeting of Golkar Party at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Nusa Dua, Bali, on Saturday (14/5) evening.

In his remarks before the leaders and cadres of the Party, the President reminded all of the importance of synergy among the people in order to win the competition.

The point was mentioned by the President considering Indonesia currently enters the era of competition. “Once again, we must be united, struggle together to compete against other countries. We must not compete against each other,” the President said.

President Jokowi also reminded all political elites to fill the national politic with productive activities which eventually will provide a solution to problems that the country is facing now.

The President also hopes that national politics are not filled with unnecessary, unproductive debates that will never be manifested. “Indonesia needs unity. Therefore, do not fill our politics with unnecessary, unproductive debates that will never be manifested. It should be filled with productive debate that could solve the problems of the nation instead,” President Jokowi stated.

Before the participants of the National Meeting, President Jokowi explained the focus of the meeting.

The President asserted that infrastructure development is a way to unite the nation.

Many people asked me, why must we have to construct an airport in Rembele? Why must the runway at Wamena Airport be expanded? It is all because the infrastructure will unite us,” the President explained.

The President also gave an explanation responding to doubt of some parties who questioned the activities of the President that repeatedly visited the location of infrastructure projects.

The President asserted that he only wants the project to be finished soon.

“Many people wondered why I have inspected Sumatra Toll Road six times. It is because I want to ensure the development of the work runs as we wanted it to be. Do not leave the project after the groundbreaking or the project will not be finished until the end of my administration,” President Jokowi said.

The President then quoted the statement from Golkar Party Chairman Aburizal Bakrie saying that Indonesia not only needs the economic growth but also economic equality.

Infrastructure development project is the President’s solution to economic growth and economic equality.

“That was the statement frequently delivered by Aburizal Bakrie saying that we not only need the economic growth but also economic equality. It applies not in Java only, but in all regions as well. Insha Allah, we will start the construction of railway in Papua this year. Without all these efforts, do not expect we could connect the country which consist of 17,000 islands, 516 regencies/cities, and 34 provinces,” President Jokowi said.

At the end of his remarks, the President officially opened the Extraordinary National Meeting of Golkar Party and he expected the party could be spirit of political party which works for the sake of the nation’s prosperity.

“I hope, with the National Meeting, Golkar can be spirit of political party which works for the sake of the nation’s prosperity,” President Jokowi said.

Before leaving the venue, President Jokowi told the reporters that political stability is really important in the development of a country.

“Without political stability, it is impossible for us to finish the development quickly,” the President said.

The President hopes a new chairman of Golkar Party will be elected through the National Meeting.

“The Chairman of Golkar Party has stated that Golkar wants to give full support for the Administration of Jokowi-JK,” President Jokowi said.

The event was attended by Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Ade Komarudin, Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Irman Gusman, Deputy Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Oesman Sapta Odang, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chrisnandi, and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (AS/SM/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)