To Handle Haze in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo Shortens US State Visit

President Joko Widodo called the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs before delivering a press statement at the Blair House, Washington DC on Monday (26/10) local time

After having a phone call with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan at 10:30 a.m local time on Monday (26/10), at Blair House, Washington DC, US, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided to shorten his state visit to the US and head back to Indonesia in order to lead the handling of haze disaster in the country.

Based on the conversation on the condition in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatera which affected by the haze, President Joko Widodo said that the hot spots are mostly found in South Sumatera and Central Kalimantan. There are 366 hot spots in Central Kalimantan and 146 in South Sumatera. The President also received the reports about hot spots in other areas.

“Therefore, due to the large amount of complaints from the people and also their reports regarding the haze impacts on their health and social lives, I decided to cancel the state visit to West Coast and will return to Indonesia. I may fly directly to South Sumatra or Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. I received a report this morning that it rained a little in Riau,” President Joko Widodo said in his press statement at the Blair House, Washington DC, on Monday (26/10) morning local time.

According to the President, he also received a report that it rained in Central Kalimantan for 15 minutes. From time to time, the President is always following the development and ensures the management of health services and evacuation of the victims run well. “I will fly to Central Kalimantan or South Sumatra from here,” the President said.

Regarding his schedule to visit West Coast regarding cooperation in information technology and creative industry, President Joko Widodo appointed the related minsters such as Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Minister of Trade, the Head of Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), and the Head of Creative Economy Agency (BEK) to meet the CEOs in West Coast.

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Ibu Iriana will return to Indonesia on Tuesday (27/10) afternoon and it is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday (29/10) by using Presidential Plane. (SI/UN/ES) (RAS/MMB/LW/Naster)