Jokowi: Indonesia will be an advanced country
INDONESIAN President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo began his second inauguration address in no uncertain terms that economic and bureaucratic reform would be the focus of his second term amid weakening global trade.
It was a far cry from his first time around five years ago which saw hundreds of thousands of Indonesians throng to the streets to watch the man that Time called “Indonesia’s Obama” take the oath.
In his address before lawmakers, senators and world leaders who attended the ceremony on Sunday, Jokowi stated that human development would be a major priority of his administration as it would help the nation reach its full potential.
“Our dream is that by 2045, [God willing], Indonesia will have escaped the middle-income trap. Indonesia will become an advanced country with an annual income of $22,634 per capita or a monthly income of $1,900 per capita.”
Gross domestic product per capita in Indonesia was last recorded at $4,284.70 in 2018, according to World Bank data c o m p i l e d b y T r a d i n g Economics.
To achieve this goal, Jokowi a d d e d t h a t g o v e r n ment bureaucracy needed to avoid becoming stuck in a “monotonous routine”.
“Often, bureaucrats report to me to say that a programme has been carried out, that the budget has been spent, that the accountability report has been completed,” he said. “But when I check in the field when I ask the people, it turns out the public has not received the benefits [of the programme].”
He emphasised that results were more important than the process, using the messaging app WhatsApp as an analogy.
“When we send a message through SMS or WhatsApp, there is sent and there is delivered. Our job is to guarantee [a programme] is delivered, not just sent,” he said. “I don’t want a bureaucracy that just keeps sending things. I want and I will ensure a bureaucracy that delivers.”
Jokowi said his administration would carry out five initiatives during his second term: using an endowment fund to develop a dynamic and hard-working workforce, industry cooperation, and technology; continuing infrastructure development; simplifying regulations by creating two omnibus laws — one on job creation and one on small business empowerment; simplifying the bureaucracy by reducing the number of civil service echelons from four to two; and transforming the economy from one that is dependent on natural resources to one that is competitive in modern manufacturing and services.
He closed his speech by reciting a Bugis saying in honour of outgoing vice president Jusuf Kalla.
“My sail is flying, my helm is mounted. Together we move toward an advanced Indonesia!” he said.
Jokowi also made another special mention, calling Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto and former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno — who challenged the incumbent and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin in the 2019 presidential race — “my best friends”.
Hendri Satrio, a political observer from Paramadina University, said Jokowi’s inauguration address was “disappointing and worrying”, as it was only a repetition of his past Indonesian Vision speech.
“What worries me is the President didn’t talk about important issues, such as corruption eradication. He also didn’t talk about his past innovations such as the mental revolution,” Hendri said.
President Jokowi did not announce his new Cabinet on Sunday but promised he would “introduce” the Cabinet on Monday morning, but no announcement was made.
The ruling coalition expects h i m t o a n nou nc e i t b y Wednesday at the latest and a nt icipates a cha nge i n t he line-up fol low ing his recent meetings with several leaders of opposition parties, namely the Gerindra Party, the Democratic Part y and the Nationa l Mandate Part y.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle executive Hendrawan Supratikno said the line-up had been completed, but that changes could still be made at the last minute.
“That’s why we [coalition members] made a joke earlier today that we should not turn off our cellphones until 11pm tonight,” Hendrawan said.