President Jokowi: Governors/Regents Must Embrace Their Political Opponents

President Jokowi gives directives at Government Work Plan (RKP) with the Governors and Regents/Mayors who were elected in the 2015 simultaneous regional elections, at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (8/4) morning

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on all regional heads to support one another until the end of the current term of office rather than arguing with others. “I asked all regional heads to unite, do not only close at the beginning and quarrel at the mid of the term,” President Jokowi said when leading Government Work Plan (RKP) with Governors and Regents/Mayors who were elected in the 2015 simultaneous regional elections, at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (8/4) morning.

The President said that the work of regional heads, including who were just elected in the 2015 simultaneous regional elections is waited by the people who trusted them.

The President also asked all regional heads and deputy heads to embrace their political opponents in the election. “Fight in the election once every 5 years. Do not continue to fight. What will people get from that?” the President said.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also asked them not to transfer regional officials who did not vote them in the regional election to remote places.

“I knew it. You should not do that, remember that the people are waiting for the result of our works, people only see our real works,” the President said.

When starting his directives, President Jokowi reminded them the challenges and hardships which Indonesia faces. The President mentioned three points: competence, deregulation, and budgeting.

“We need to know about those three points. Thus, we will have a synergy in managing the country and will establish a good consolidation among central government and regional governments,” the President said.

According to the President, the current global condition is at lower point, and the economic growth slows down. The President took an example when Indonesia has just anticipated Greece’s financial crisis, global economy must face China’s yuan depreciation triggered by a decline in China’s economy and Fed interest rates increase.

The President reminded all that we must face those types of condition and we must realize that global condition changes every month, week, day, minute, or even second.

“Therefore, as a big country, as a big ship, Indonesia must realize that we are now entering inter-regional and inter-country integrations when every country will be affected once the condition of one certain country is shaken,” the President firmly said.

The President called on all regional heads to prepare themselves to compete in this era of information openness. Furthermore, Indonesia joins the ASEAN Economic Community (MEA) and intends to join European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in the European Union (EU), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) of China, and Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“That are the openness that we cannot refuse. Before Panama Papers leaked, I already have a bundle of information. I know if you keep your money in Swiss or other countries,” the President explained.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also reminded all that regional economic growth and inflation affected national condition. “Regional State Budget (APBD) realization will boost regional economy. Do not use the old pattern, supervise the department heads so that the budget is ready at the beginning of the year and the project could be implemented in February,” the President requested.

The President asked all regional officials not to make budget realization at the middle of the year, or even in September or October. “Do not use old habits. Do not start the construction on rainy season, in September, October. Why does not start the construction in March. Do not follow the flow of our bureaucracy,” the President added.

Besides attended by the governors, regents/deputy regents, and mayors/deputy mayors, the RKP was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli,  Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/ the Head of National Development Planning Agency Sofyan Djalil. (FID/DND/GUN/ES) (RAS/MMD/YM/Naster)