Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Pre-Employment Card Alumni Gathering at Sentul International Convention Centre (SICC), Bogor Regency, West Java Province, June 17, 2022

Press:

Mr. Jokowi, many beneficiaries of Pre-Employment Card at the event said that they wanted to continue the program even though you will no longer be the President. Is this okay, sir? Can we do that?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

It shows the real benefits are enjoyed by them, the beneficiaries of the Pre-Employment Card. The Statistics Indonesia’s survey clearly showed that 88.9 percent of the participants claimed to have benefited from better skills or new skills, this is important. The percentage data of 88.9 percent was a very high appreciation.

Press:

Does that mean (the program can continue) even though you will no longer be the President?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

It will continue. It will continue since next year’s budget has been allocated. Is that right, Mrs. Minister? The budget has been allocated for the year after next. You may ask Minister of Finance about the budget.

Press:

Currently there are about 12 million beneficiaries. Will there be more participants or what, sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

The most important thing now is to evaluate, correction first. The budget will be adjusted to the existing State Budget. Still, what is clear is that our country’s human capital development is very good, be it for upscaling or rescaling, and in a very large number of 12.8 million. That is a very big number. Can we reach the number if (the program is carried out) in offline manner? It will take decades to accomplish that.

Press:

How can we, sir, ensure that the program will continue for the next five to three years?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

Yes. As long as the program is useful, people will definitely ask for it and maybe (the program) will change here and there… Right now, there may be a lot of training about digital science, perhaps it will change to issues related to food or energy in the future.

Press:
(inaudible recording)

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

You can ask the local government about the question since it is their responsibility. The community health centers (Puskesmas) is the responsibility of the local government.

Press:

Regarding the rising in COVID-19 case, will the level continue to rise, sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

In the meantime, our positive rate is still below the standard set by the WHO. Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant. Since the beginning, even though (the cases are) still low, I have said before, not just once, twice, three times, we must remain alert, be it on Omicron (variant) or BA.4, BA.5.

Press:

The peak is predicted to be in July, is that right, sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

We hope that there will be no spike, but I think I also stated our anticipation a month or two ago to speed up booster (vaccination). We have the vaccines, there are still tens of millions. Do it right away, ask for it. Right now, we want to carry out booster vaccination drive but it is just difficult to find the participants.

Press:

Regarding foot and mouth disease suffered by Indonesian cattle, how is the vaccination like so far, sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

The most important thing, first, we actually locked down the regencies or provinces, but the (FMD outbreak) is developing like COVID-19.

Press:

How about the vaccination, sir?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):

(The transmission) is fast like COVID-19, I do not know through what kind of medium, which is obviously fast. Even though (animal traffic) has been blocked by Ministry of Agriculture and the Police. But in fact, it is moving fast and now it is in 18 provinces, 190 regencies and cities.

But last night, alhamdulillah the 800 thousand doses of vaccines have arrived. This is something that will also come quickly, just like COVID-19. We have to carry out vaccination drive in a quick and swift manner so it can protect the other cattle. Is that clear?

Press:
Thank you, sir.

(GWH/MMB)