President Jokowi: As a Member of G-20, Indonesia Should Help Other Countries

President Jokowi delivers his remark at a working meeting of Chiefs of Indonesian Mission with Minister of Foreign Affairs, at Pancasila Building, MoFA, Jakarta, Monday (12/2). (Photo: PR/Oji)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo reminded that Indonesia is already a member of Group 20 (G-20). It means Indonesia is part of big countries, no more feels inferior, or even feels as a small country.

“I have commanded all ministries not to seek help anymore. We should start to help, help, help,” President Jokowi stated in his remark at the opening of Chiefs of Indonesian Mission Working Meeting with Foreign Affairs Ministry, at Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Jakarta, on Monday (12/2) morning.

According to the President, it must be reversed because at this time Indonesia helps countries that need help, need aid.

Beforehand, President Jokowi also presented the outcome from his visit to several Central and South Asian countries, couple weeks ago, likes visiting Cox’ Bazar refugees barrack, in Bangladesh, and to Afghanistan which rebuilds its peace.

“Indonesia is called to help. We also continue to help our Palestinian brothers’ struggle fighting oppression and injustice,” the President stated while adding that all diplomacy efforts on peace and humanity is a constitutional work that must be accomplished.

In other part of his remark, President Jokowi mentioned about Indonesian Citizen’s (WNI) protection. The President warned not to complicate the process of issuing licenses, passports, or visas for weeks even months.

“It is no longer suitable. I want our embassies be an example for other institutions. Those matters should be taken care in minutes or hours,” the President firmly said.

The President applauded and appreciated few measures already taken to standardize WNI protection system abroad through law instrument, human resources capacity enforcement, and public awareness.

“System application that has been demonstrated by Pak Ngurah (Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, red) also protects our citizens. We could check what his/her name is, where the address is, what his/her phone number is, and where he/she has been,” the President explained.

Therefore, the President reminded the need of cooperation work between Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs to record all WNI data abroad, as the only one WNI’s database.

The President admitted, the difficulty lies on illegal things. Hence, the authorities abroad fix what it is there and the authority here fix what it is here, as a result the illegal things will be removed.

“I am sure, if we have a reliable single database, WNI’s protection will be better,” the President conveyed while adding that he has commanded all ministries/institutions to work on this process, so that Foreign Affairs Minister, Home Affairs Minister, National Authority for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI), embassies, consulate generals improve their services to WNI wherever they are.

The event were also attended by, among others,  Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of State Secretary Paratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Fachir. (DND/OJI/ES) (EPI/YM/Naster)