The Priorities of the President-elect

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is interviewed by editor in chief of Kompas, Ninuk Mardiana Pambudi, at Bogor Palace, West Java, Monday (1/7/2019).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo explained his programs after the General Elections Commission (KPU) officially declared him and his running mate, Ma’ruf Amin, president and vice president-elect for 2019-2024.

In a special interview with Kompas at Bogor Palace on Monday, a day after the KPU announced the winner of the 2019 presidential election, Jokowi said he had at least five priority programs to implement in his second term.

The construction of physical infrastructure will continue and be expanded from what has been done in the first period, 2014-2019; domestic and foreign direct investment will be further promoted, especially for export-based industries and import substitution to open more employment opportunities, the use of the state revenue will be more efficient and on target; and all of that will be related to the development of social infrastructure, namely the development of human resources with global competitiveness.

Jokowi also said that he would continue to simplify licensing so that the ease of business in Indonesia could be further improved, to restructure the bureaucracy to be more efficient, effective, flexible and be able to respond to changes quickly and accurately.

We hope that the next five-year work program will resolve our main challenges, including improving the current account deficit and trade deficit; continue to reduce the gap between of Java and outside Java, cities and villages, income among employees and between genders; reduce the number of poor people; improve lives by reducing the number of stunted children; and increase labor productivity.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The chairwoman of the selection committee for the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Yenti Garnasih, speaks to reporters after meeting with President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/6/2019). At the meeting ,the President conveyed his commitment to eradicating corruption and asked the selection committee to work optimally to secure the best KPK leaders for the 2019-2024 period. Registration for KPK leadership candidates began Monday (17/6/2019) and will close on 4 July.

A survey conducted by the Kompas R&D on 545 respondents in 16 major cities in Indonesia found that there was a desire for President Jokowi’s administration to immediately resolve a number of urgent issues.

The issues are to reunite a polarized society following the 2019 election, strengthening Pancasila, selecting clean and professional leaders for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and a strong coalition Cabinet.

We witnessed the polarization in the community during the election. Identity politics and populism are strengthened by promoting religious and ethnic sentiments. Not surprisingly, the public wants the Pancasila as the unifying ideology of Indonesia to be strengthened.

The challenge is to convince the younger generation that Pancasila is relevant to their aspirations.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Jokowi speaks with the selection committee members for the candidates of the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/6/2019). At the meeting, which was attended by nine members of the selection committee, the President conveyed his commitment to eradicating corruption and asked the selection committee to work optimally in secure the best KPK leaders for the 2019-2024 period. Registration for candidates for KPK leadership began Monday (17/6/2019) and will run until 4 July.

To be able to answer the demand of the people and to run his presidential program in the next five years, Jokowi and Ma\'ruf Amin are required to form a Cabinet with capable, knowledgeable, honest people with integrity, not those only concerned about personal and group interests.

Ministers must be able to translate the President\'s vision and program and fulfill the aspirations of the community, because Jokowi promised to be a president for all Indonesians, whether they chose him or not during the election.