Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Commemoration of 29th National Family Day, at Merdeka Square, Medan City, North Sumatra Province, July 7, 2022
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
Good afternoon,
Peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om swastiastu,
Namo buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.
Horas!
Mejuah-juah!
Ya’ahowu!
Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet;
Honorable Members of the House of Representatives (DPR);
Honorable Governor and Vice Governor of North Sumatra, Governors across the country, and members of the North Sumatra Provincial Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda);
Honorable Regents and Mayors of all North Sumatra, also Regents and Mayors across the country;
Honorable Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and members;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Today all countries are not in a safe situation. We have to be careful about this. We have been facing a tough challenge for two and half years against COVID-19 pandemic and it’s still ongoing. Even though other countries still have high COVID-19 cases, alhamdulillah we are better. Nevertheless, we have to remain vigilant and it is our duty to control the cases so it remains low for the better we control the COVID-19, the easier economic recovery will be.
Now, it is even more difficult since there is one big problem happening, namely the war in Ukraine. We have to be careful about that war since it is about food and energy. Food, oil, and gas that will affect all countries in the world. We have to be careful.
In normal situation before the pandemic, oil used to be cost only US$60 but now it has reached US$110-120 per barrel, the price has doubled. We must be careful. In our country, we still hold the price of Pertalite (one of subsidized fuel type). If we look another country, their fuel price is already at Rp31,000 in Germany and Singapore, Rp20,000 in Thailand, but we are still at Rp7,650. Because of what? The State Budget subsidized it. Do not clap just yet.
Because we are still strong and we pray that the State Budget will remain strong in providing subsidies. If it not strong enough, what can we do? Does anyone agree if the price of fuel goes up? I am sure everyone will disagree. But remember that we are still importing, half of our needs of 1.5 million barrels of oil are still imported. What does it mean? If prices abroad go up, we will have to pay more. So, you know what you must know.
First, the oil and gas problem. Likewise with natural gas, the international price has increased five times, even though our imports of gas are also very large.
Now moving to something that has to do with the National Family Day, namely food. Food prices are also rising for the whole world price is rising. Some have increased by 30 percent; some have increased by 50 percent. Alhamdulillah, fortunately our people, mainly farmers, are still producing rice and so far, the price has not increased. I hope it does not go up, because our stock is still abundant and we have not imported rice for three years. Normally, we import 1.5-2 million tons of rice, but now we do not import anymore. Minister of Agriculture is here, thank you, Mr. Minister.
Nevertheless, we need to be careful with food commodities. The world’s prices have all gone up, especially wheat. We also import very large wheat, namely 11 million tons. Be careful to one who likes to eat bread and noodles for the price may go up. Because of what? There is a war in Ukraine. Why did the war in Ukraine affect the price of wheat? Because Ukraine produced 30-40 percent of the world’s wheat. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, it is all there.
When I went to Ukraine, I directly asked President Zelenskyy, there is a 22 million tons stock of wheat and cannot be sold. Then there is this new harvest of 55 million tons, meaning that the stock is already 77 million tons. In Russia itself, I asked President Putin how much stock in Russia? (He answered,) 130 million tons. Imagine how many hundreds of millions of people depend on Ukrainian and Russian wheat.
And, now it has started, because the goods cannot get out of Ukraine and Russia, in Africa and some countries in Asia have started acute food shortages and famine. Let us imagine. We must be truly grateful that our country is provided with food whose prices, mainly rice, do not increase. We have to be really grateful.
If you look abroad, the price of food has increased by 30-50 percent because of dependence on wheat. Do you want all the prices to go up? Those who want, please raise your hand, come forward, and I will give you a bicycle. Please come forward and say, “Sir, I want food prices to rise.” I will give you a bicycle. No one?
Therefore, food self-sufficiency is important. I invite all regents and mayors to use the smallest land for planting, to produce daily food needs. This is important. There should be no empty land. Use it to produce daily food needs and increase the nutritional intake of our children, because we can plant wherever and it must be growing so we can harvest it. This is very important.
This is because our children today will determine the face of Indonesia’s future. If our children are smart, intelligent, it is easy for us to compete with other countries. Conversely, if our children are stunted and malnourished, it will be difficult for us to compete with other countries. This is why I always remind you.
Therefore, we must really work hard to reduce the percentage of stunting. In 2014, the stunting rate was 37 percent and in 2021 it was at 24.4 percent, the decline was very drastic. But we must be eyeing to reduce stunting to 14 percent in 2024. Do you agree? If you answer with less enthusiastic, it means you are hesitant. Do you agree?
Is there any Family Companion? Please raise your hand and come forward, just one, the red one. I saw that she was very lively. Anyone related to the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team? I am looking for the members, not the chairperson. Please come forward. Field Companion too, please come forward, just one.
On this Commemoration of 29th National Family Day, I invite all people to move and work together, synergize to reduce stunting and all the root causes of the problem to prepare quality human capital for our next generation. We really need to prepare it.
Please wear it, Bu. And please tell us your name.
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. My name is Lidya Roza, Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Can you repeat your name?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Lidya Roza, Sir. Lidya Roza.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Ibu Lidya?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Yes, Lidya Roza.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
From?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Pasaman, West Sumatra.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Pasaman. Ibu Lidya from Pasaman. Can you describe how is your job?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Our team divided into three jobs; village midwives, Family Welfare Movement (PKK) cadres, and family planning (KB) cadres.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes. What are you doing? What are you telling the community during your job? You have to eat eggs or fish? Or what?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
To pregnant women, soon-to-be brides, and post-delivery women, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
To pregnant women …
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
To soon-to-be brides, and post-delivery women …
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Soon-to-be brides …
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
And to post-delivery women.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Post-delivery women. What do you tell them?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
To soon-to-be brides, before they are getting married, their nutrition must be sufficient and to get married, they must be at least 19 years old according to the marriage law.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
How do you ensure that?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
We have an MoU with religious affairs office (KUA).
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
They can be married because …
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
We have an MoU with Ministry of Religious Affairs for counseling, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
And how do you make sure that these women have sufficient nutrition so that they can marry, for example. How do you check it?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
There is Elsimil app.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, there is an app?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
The app name is Elsimil, an e-app Siap Nikah Siap Hamil (ready to marry, ready to pregnant).
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Only in Pasaman?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Across Indonesia.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Across the country, excellent. Yes. So, that was the one for (the bride). As for pregnant women, what do you tell them?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
That’s the village midwife’s job, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
The village midwife’s job? What do midwives usually tell them?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
We measure their upper arm circumference to determine their nutrition and also check their gestational age to see if they match their size. If the pregnant woman has not enough weight, it means that the womb is at risk of stunting so we prevent it by providing nutrition.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Prevent it by providing nutrition. Who provides nutrition?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
PKK cadres and midwives, sir. Then…
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Where is the money coming from? From local government?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Supplementary feeding (PMT) money, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
From?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
There are PMT money for pregnant women and toddler from the local government.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, there is also PMT for pregnant women?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
Yes, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay. So, there is no funding issue?
Lidya Roza (Family Companion Team from Pasaman regency, West Sumatra)
The money is not yet sufficient, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay, thank you, Bu Lidya. So, can you have one child? What if two children? Three? You cannot? Yes, you can have three children, but you must set the pregnancy gap more than three years and it must be more than three years. Please do not get pregnant every single year without setting a distance. When the mother has recovered and well nourished, then you can have another child. And most importantly, prepare their education to become quality human capital for the next generation.
Next, what is your name?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Yes, sir.
Bunga melati si bunga raya,
Dipetik oleh si anak dara.
Deni Andayuni itulah nama saya,
Satgas stunting Provinsi Sumatra Utara.
(The first two lines of the pantun/four-line rhyming poem are an introduction. The punch of the poem is to say her name “Deni Andayuni” and her assignment on stunting task force “from North Sumatra Stunting Task Force”)
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Can you repeat it?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Bunga melati si bunga raya,
Dipetik oleh si anak dara.
Deni Andayuni itulah nama saya,
Satgas stunting Provinsi Sumatra Utara.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Come again? What is your name?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Deni Andayuni, sir. Deni Andayuni.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, Ibu Deni. Yes, please. What is your job?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
I am from Stunting Task Force.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Stunting Task Force. What are you doing in your job?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
We from the task force support the Government to be able to accelerate the stunting reduction, especially in North Sumatra province, to reach 14 percent in 2024.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Can you guys do it?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Thanks to the support of Mr. Governor and Mr. Mayor who are very caring and indeed I appreciate the fact that the Medan municipalities has also allocated more funds to tackle stunting, especially in the city of Medan.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Based on percentage, how much stunting is in North Sumatra?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
25.8 percent in North Sumatra, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
25.8.
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
As for Medan city, 19.9 percent. So, we must …
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Does that mean getting down to 14 percent is easy or not?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
With all our efforts, inshaallah, if we have good intentions, hopefully God will bless, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Alright. So, you have confidence that 14 percent can be achieved?
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Yes, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay, I will give you bicycle later.
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
I ask for nine bicycles, sir, since my team …
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
If you can reach 14 percent.
Deni Andayuni (North Sumatra Stunting Task Force member)
Yes, sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Okay, thank you, Bu Deni. And please write down her name and address. I will give her bicycles. Anyone still want to come forward?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In particular, I invite all families in Indonesia, especially in rural areas, to once again use their land for farming and raising livestock. There should be no empty land. Use it to produce daily food needs and increase the nutritional intake of our children. This is important and I will always remind you of this.
In addition, please take care of the health environment both within and around your family. This is also important. And, I believe that if all our families and communities take action, the stunting management efforts carried out by the Government, be it Central Government or local governments, will quickly produce results. I am happy that Bu Deni said that she is optimistic that in 2024 we can achieve the 14 percent.
Lastly, I believe that the family is the pillar of the nation’s welfare. The family is the first and foremost ecosystem in nurturing, educating, to form healthy, nutritious, and quality humans.
Happy 29th National Family Day.
I thank you.
Majulah keluarga Indonesia! (Greetings to revive the spirit)
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
(GWH/MUR)