President Joko Widodo checks out Sections II and III of the Medan-Binjai toll road on Friday afternoon (13/10), along with (rear, from left) State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, North Sumatera Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi and Hutama Karya president director I Gusti Ngurah Putra. Earlier, the President inaugurated Sections II-III of the Medan-Binjai toll road in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatera, which connects Helvetia-Seisemayang and Seisemayang-Binjai as part of the 2,704-kilometer Trans-Sumatera toll road.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Within three years of their government, the performance of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla is considered to have satisfied the public. However, for the next two years, changes that have been made by the government will sink behind the hustle and bustle of preparations for the 2019 general elections.
Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Nasir Djamil said in Jakarta on Wednesday (18/10) that it would be difficult to change public perception over the next two years. The reason is because the government usually runs effectively within the first three years. Meanwhile, in the remaining two years, it will be busy with preparations for the general elections.
"So, it is still uncertain whether this government will remain effective within the next two years. Not much can be expected," said Nasir.
Nasir said that one of the public perceptions of the Jokowi-JK government is the weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which is driven by parties supporting the government. Actually, the strengthening of the KPK and corruption eradication was a campaign promise echoed by Jokowi-JK during the 2014 general elections.
"However, it is the pro-government parties that seem to be eager to weaken the KPK. This will affect the image of the President and the government even though the problem is that the parties supporting the government are playing political acrobatics," he said.
Purchasing power
Secretary-general of the Democratic Party, Hinca Panjaitan, said with three years of Jokowi-JK’s government, many positive things have been achieved. However, he also mentioned there are several problems that still need to be noted, such as the deliberation of the Government Regulation in lieu of the Law on Mass Organizations at the House of Representatives (DPR).
On the economic side, Hinca said, the Democratic Party recorded that Indonesia\'s economic growth has improved, but there is still the problem of the people’s weakening purchasing power.
According to Hinca, during the party’s Traveling Across the Archipelago program, he saw evidence of declining purchasing power and the people are complaining. He further said that it will affect the people\'s views of the Jokowi-JK government.
Hinca also conceded that it would be difficult for the government to be effective in carrying out its programs in the remaining two years in office. That is because 2018 is the start of the political year. Therefore, he said the assistants of the President must have the strong commitment to work hard in the remaining period.
Infrastructure
Chairperson of the National Awakening Party’s (PKB) House faction, Ida Fauziyah, said the performance of Jokowi-JK can be seen from the rapid rate of infrastructure development outside Java Island. Previously, residents outside Java Island frequently said they could not see development in their areas, but this has started to change.
"If we go to Papua or outside Java, I frequently hear that local people now feel that they are part of Indonesia. That is the prominent thing. In other fields, there are more achievements as well," said Ida.
According to her, as a party supporting the government, PKB encouraged the government to be increasingly focused on working on the next year. Among the important work that needs to be done is narrowing socio-economic gap. Moreover, infrastructure development must continue because it is badly needed by the people.
Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Eriko Sotarduga also considered the movement of Jokowi-JK government within the last three years as on track. Eriko disclosed that the results of infrastructure development cannot be immediately felt. However, after the infrastructure development is completed, economic development can grow faster and its impact will be felt by the people.
Regarding the decline in purchasing power, Ida said that the government still must answer this by preparing job opportunities.
In the remaining two years of service, the government must be able to maintain its achievements, even improve them. According to Eriko, in the next two years, improvements can still be carried out by the government, such as in the ease to invest, raise the purchasing power of the people, improve the taxation sector and optimize the use of village funds.
“What is seen by the people is the output. Therefore, as long as the work of the government together with its supporting parties can really be enjoyed by the people, issues that attack the government and the parties will not greatly affect them,” he added.
