Jokowi Will Not Select Presidential Spokesman

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has decided not to choose a presidential spokesman as his predecessors did, according to the former deputy of the Jokowi-JK Transition Team, Andi Widjajanto.

"It seems that the president will not pick a spokesman," Widjajanto said in the premises of the Presidential Palace here on Saturday.

Even when he was the governor of Jakarta, Jokowi did not have spokesman, Widjajanto pointed out, adding that the president will only appoint a chief of presidential staff.

The president selected the minister/state secretary and the chief of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) ahead of the cabinet announcement on Sunday so that they can make preparations for the inauguration of ministries on Monday (October 27), Widjajanto stated.

The former transition team deputy, however, refused to divulge the names of the chosen minister/state secretary and Bappenas chief who, he said, would be introduced along with the members of the cabinet on Sunday.  

Jokowi is set to hold the first cabinet meeting after the inauguration of his ministries on Monday to fulfill his campaign pledges.

Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla were sworn in as the president and vice president of Indonesia, respectively, on Monday (October 20).  

In his inaugural address, Jokowi stated that he believed the nation could shoulder what he termed a very formidable historic burden through mutual aid and hard work.

"I call on fishermen, workers, farmers, market traders, roadside vendors, drivers, academics, military personnel, police officers, businessmen, and professionals alike to work hard, work together and help each other because this is a historic moment for us. We need to work, work and work," he reiterated.  (WDY)