President Jokowi Disappointed Over High-Ranking Officials Committing Graft
President Jokowi visits Pameran Kemajuan Pembangunan Infrastruktur Indonesia at the National Monument, Central Jakarta, Sunday (27/8). (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Agung)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo expressed his disappointment over the arrest of Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during a sting operation amidst the Governments effort to work hard to build infrastructures.
Its very disappointing. I also need to remind all high-ranking officials not to do that (committing graft), President Jokowi said in response to journalists questions after visiting a special exhibition showing the progress of infrastructure development in Indonesia held at the National Monument in Central Jakarta, Sunday (27/8).
President Jokowi also admitted he has repeatedly reiterated the need to improve the system; however, the President admitted that it is also related to the integrity and morality of those high-ranking officials. How many people have been arrested in the sting operation done either by the KPK or the Saber Pungli (the Illegal Levy Eradication Task Force). Its been hundreds of people, no dozens of people. Probably already thousands of people, the President said.
Regarding infrastructure development itself, President Jokowi said the exhibition shows that some infrastructure projects are almost finished, while some others have been 30 percent finished, 60 percent finished, 70 percent finished, and some have finished.
This exhibition shows pictures of infrastructure development progress taken by photographers. We want to show them all, the President said.
The pictures of dams, seaports, small airports, and toll roads, the President said, show progress of our infrastructure development. We want to raise optimism that the progress has really been made and real on the ground, the President firmly said.
President Jokowi also hopes that 245 national strategic projects can be completed in 2019. However, he reminded that there are surely obstacles on the ground.
We do not rule out the possibility that there will be barriers. One or two projects are still facing land acquisition issues so constructions on the ground also cannot be done. But we always discuss every problem during limited meetings, the President said.
Joining the President in the visit were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (AGG/GUN/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)
