Foster Optimism, Jokowi Says

KOMPAS/ANITA YOSSIHARA

Interview with Jokowi

BADUNG, KOMPAS – Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s and Jusuf Kalla’s administration. Fostering public optimism, confidence and competitiveness have been the administration’s focus.

In the past four years, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has focused on fostering public optimism, confidence and competitiveness. He said that these would still be his focus in his remaining year in office.

“We wish to spread optimism in the country and among the people, no matter what the challenges and hurdles are,” the President told Kompas chief editor Budiman Tanuredjo in Badung, Bali, on Friday (19/10/2018).

The following is an excerpt of the 48-minute interview, which was filled with smiles.

Q: During your four years as President, Indonesia hosted big events such as the Asian Games and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings. They have all been successful. What do you wish to achieve?

A: We wish to build international confidence. In hosting these huge events, we planned everything in detail so that everything went well. In the Asian Games, we hosted around 17,000 athletes and officials. We checked everything; we went through the whole process, including ensuring athletes’ achievement. It was the same for the Asian Para Games.

The IMF-WB Annual Meetings were also well-prepared. People were just talking about the budget. They said we spent Rp 560 billion [US$36.91 million]. I stated that the money was for infrastructures, including the airport runway and tunnels. The money was for that and we still use [the infrastructure] after the event. Attendees paid for their own hotels, flights and other facilities.

Your speech at the IMF-WB Annual Meeting was stunning. Everyone is talking about “winter is coming”. Why did you use the analogy?

We wish to convey our idea in simple terms and it worked. We wish to say that rivalries are unhealthy. We need to focus on fostering collaboration and strategic international partnerships.

What will you work on in the next year?

I will emphasize fostering confidence. With confidence, investment will come. Yesterday, Alhamdulillah [praise God], we got Rp 200 trillion in investments. This is real and concrete.

During your leadership, infrastructure development has been massive. Have you been satisfied with development thus far?

We wish to achieve mid-term and long-term [goals]. Economic growth based on consumption should be supported by production. This requires down streaming and industrialization. In order to get there, we need to fulfill many requirements, including infrastructures, ease of licensing and matters related to manpower. We need to prepare all of them, one by one.

Building infrastructure is not just about the economy, but also to unite people and support connectivity. We are a huge country. We have 17,000 islands; 514 regencies and cities. Building a country is different from running a business or a company. Taking care of a country requires the achievement of social justice and equality. We need to calculate this.

You are often seen as receptive toward loans that increase state debt. What is your response?

I think that it’s not a problem as long as the calculation is sound and it does not violate the State Finance Law. Other countries take loans, too. However, more importantly, the loans are used for productive things that generate revenue, such as building airports or seaports.

The rupiah’s exchange value is on everyone’s minds right now. How will you tackle this?

We need to be wary and careful. We should be really productive in using the state budget. We need to continuously improve our trade balance, [reduce] the current account deficit and encourage exports of our products and industrialization.

On disaster management in Lombok, Central Sulawesi and other regions, was it true that you insisted on visiting them the first chance you got? What image were you trying to build?

We wish to let the people know that the government is with them. Furthermore, we need to calm the people down by reassuring them that the government will not stay silent.

On law enforcement, what are your plans to reduce corruption in the country?

They key is to build a system to ensure that [there would be no opportunity] for corruption. This can be done by simplifying the system and establishing systems like e-budgeting.

Politics

What have you done in political consolidation in the past four years?

If we look at the political processes, both at the House of Representatives and political parties, I think things are consolidated well and it can be said that we have had no problems.

On hoaxes, such as claims that you are linked to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), what is your response?

That [issue] has existed since 2014. I have said numerous times that the PKI was disbanded in 1965-1966. I was born in 1961, which means that I was only four years old [when the PKI was disbanded]. How can a toddler be a PKI activist? Many then realized this and switched the target to my parents and grandparents. Well, just check on it. My extended family members are all Muslims. All of my grandparents were Muslims.

Was the rumor spread for political interest related to the 2019 election?

Well, that is unethical politics: attacking others with hoaxes, slander and insults.

Do you have any intention of taking legal action against those that spread such hoaxes and slander?

If I really do that, hundreds of thousands of people will get [in trouble].

Then, how will you fight them?

Just let the law run its course. The law must be upheld. However, if I file reports for such trivial things, hundreds of thousands of people will get in trouble.

What about the issue of you being China’s lackey or foreigners’ lackey?

That is just so funny. Now, let’s take a look. The Mahakam Block, which used to be 100 percent under France’s and Japan’s, is now under [state oil and gas giant] Pertamina 100 percent. It is similar to Chevron’s block. Lastly, there is Freeport. What foreigners’ lackey does that?

Lastly, what about this boxing training you have been involved in? How is it going?

It’s just me trying to make myself sweat more. I do not want to be a boxer. I have cycled and jogged but I did not sweat too much. Also, I did not sweat too much while doing archery. (NTA/LAS/INA/HAR)