Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during Inauguration of the Ciliwung River Channel, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, DKI Jakarta Province, July 31, 2023

Journalist
Assalamualaikum, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Are you all set?

Journalist
Please, Mr. Jokowi.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay.

Journalist
Sir, related to the inauguration. Did the completion of the Ciliwung River Channel truly span 11 years?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Once again, dealing with floods in DKI Jakarta requires a comprehensive approach from upstream and downstream. The Ciawi and Sukamahi reservoirs have managed to intercept a significant amount of water, yet some challenges may persist. We have the Ciliwung River’s normalization, the East Flood Canal, and now the Ciliwung River Channel, not to mention pump installations, including those in Sentiong River, Ancol, and 13 other rivers across DKI Jakarta. They could only reduce flooding by around 62 percent. The construction project was undertaken about 11 years ago with a budget of Rp1.50 trillion, spanning a length of 1.2 kilometers with two tunnels. It has reduced flooding in six sub-districts. However, the progress stands at 62 percent, we still have 38 percent left to be done. The Ciliwung River’s normalization must be completed immediately. Out of 33 kilometers, only 16 kilometers have been completed, 17 kilometers more to go. I urge Minister of Public Works and Public Housing and the Governor to complete the project, including the normalization of 12 rivers flowing through DKI Jakarta.

Journalist
Is there a specific target for that, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
It is a long-term work, not to mention the flooding coming from the north sea. This is a big problem as well.

Journalist
Sir, what could be the reason behind the pause in the work for a while?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Pardon?

Journalist
The work has been put on hold, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
During that period, the drilling activities had to stop as the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta had not been resolved the related issues yet. The matters have now been resolved. Therefore, I reiterated that this is the collaborative effort between Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta.

Journalist
Could I ask another question, Sir? Regarding the polemic of Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). What are your thoughts on Head of Basarnas named a suspect in the graft case, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I believe it revolves around coordination, something that each institution should carry out within their respective domains of authority. Once done, everything will run smoothly.

Journalist
Will there be an evaluation of top TNI brass holding civilian position, Sir? In order to avoid a similar conflict like the one experienced by the Head of Basarnas, Sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
We will evaluate all matters thoroughly. Not only the related issue, but all of them. We do not expect corruption to occur in other institutions.

Journalist
What about the causes of hunger in Central Papua, Sir? Could you give us your thoughts on that?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I have ordered Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Minister of Social Affairs, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the regional government in Papua to immediately handle it. But the thing is, as you should know, it is a specific area with a high altitude in the region where no plants grow during the winter. Second, security constraints also hindered food delivery. The planes are hesitant to descend into that area. That is also the problem. Therefore, I also ordered the TNI to assist with the escort. The problem is always the same, the difficult terrain makes it inaccessible, and the pilots do not dare go down there. That’s the problem.

Journalist
Mr. Jokowi, could you tell what was discussed during a meeting with Surya Paloh a week ago? And how you see Surya Paloh as an individual and a political figure?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes, the meeting lasted for an hour.

Journalist
Have you chosen a voice for a particular presidential candidate? According to Mas Gibran, you have lent your support to a particular presidential candidate?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
You can ask Gibran for that.

Journalist
What about Tim 7?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I was not the person who brought it up.

Journalist
Thank you, Sir.

(RIF/MUR)