Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia After the Inauguration of Ancol Sentiong Water Pump Station, North Jakarta, December 11, 2023

Reporter
Pak, any statements regarding the occasion today?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Well, rainy season has come. We have made our preparation for Jakarta by building the Ciawi and Sukamahi Dams, on the upstream side. Then, the construction of Ciliwung waterway has also been completed which will channel water from the Ciliwung River to the East Flood Canal. We also continue the normalization of the Ciliwung River which still needs approximately 17 kilometers to complete. And on the most downstream side, in Ancol, Sentiong, the Sentiong Water Pump Station is already completed. I believe these constructions will reduce the flood affected areas in Jakarta. The Sentiong Pump, in particular, will reduce flood risk in seven disctricts.

Reporter
What are those seven districts, Pak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Seven districts, Pademangan, Senen. Johar Baru, and others.

Reporter
Pak, will the pump also help solve the runoff flooding from Bogor?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
As I have mentioned before, the water flows from the upstream to downstream here in Pluit. This is the biggest pump built by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and we expect that it will effectively reduce flood in Jakarta, especially in seven districts.

Reporter
Mr. President, any comments regarding the debate over the Law on Special Region of Jakarta, particularly the appointment of Governor of Jakarta by the President?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
It’s still a bill, and the initiative comes from the House of Representatives. The Government has not received it. It’s not on my desk yet. So let the process takes its course in the parliament.

Reporter
What is the Government’s stance for this, Pak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
If it’s all on me, governor should be directly elected.

Reporter
Pak Zulhas [Zulkifli Hasan – Chairman of the National Mandate Party, Partai Amanat Nasional], you are now a member of PAN, any comments for this?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Well, PAN is a member of government coalition, so PAN is our family. It means the same thing, right? PAN belongs to our family; we belong to the PAN family.

Reporter
Pak, about BEM UGM [the Student Executive Board of Gadjah Mada University]?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
It’s a democratic process, there’s no problem about it. But I would like to remind us that we have eastern manner.

Reporter
Was it too much, Pak?

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

Reporter
Any person to replace Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, Pak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
No, not yet. There is still the Minister, right?

Reporter
Pak, about Rohingya. You decided to provide assistance to… about Rohingya, where will the Rohingya refugees be placed? As the government stated that we will accommodate them temporarily.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I stated that we will temporarily accommodate them, temporarily. We are still discussing it with some international organizations, UNHCR, and others, as the local people don’t really want them.

(AY/LW)