Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has appealed to Indonesians to be patient about the government achieving its development targets as they need time to process.
"Change is difficult, not comfortable," he said at a jamboree of his volunteers' communities in Cibubur here on Saturday.
According to the president, there are a number of aspects that need improvements, including changing the subsidy policy from being consumptive to productive for sectors in dire need of infrastructural development.
"With regard to the economy, we have indulged in a fuel subsidy for years, with the budget for the subsidy reaching a high amount of Rp300 trillion a year. This policy has been followed for years. So we decided to cut it and reallocate the budget for productive purposes because we do not want people to be consumptive," he noted.
Soon after he was inaugurated as the president, Jokowi revoked the fuel subsidy and allocated the budget for other purposes considered productive.
Regarding rice price hikes, President Jokowi pointed out that the government had been pressured to import rice. "There has been a price rise because they want to pressure us to import rice. The price will fall. It is easy to make a decision on it and bring down the price to Rp4,000 (per kilogram). But what will farmers eat then?" he remarked.
"If I decide to import rice and the price falls to Rp4,000 per kilogram, what will happen to farmers? People must know this. The price hike was implemented to pressure us to import the commodity. We will not do it now," he affirmed.
"In the future, we will focus on infrastructure development. Later, when ports are built and railway lines are ready in Papua, Kalimantan and Sumatra, distribution will become easier and goods will be cheaper," he explained.
Furthermore, President Jokowi said he was not worried about losing his popularity over his policies. "When I decided to scrap the fuel subsidy in November, I was told it would lessen my popularity. That is a risk, not a problem," he stated.
"I know it hurts, but making changes involves pain. Many quarters reprimanded me, but I believe no one who came here did it. I am ready to be unpopular. I am ready to be scolded. Do not think I am fearful," he stressed. "This is a medium- and long-term plan, but it requires sacrifice," he said.
Although the economic challenges are not simple, Jokowi is optimistic that growth this year will be higher than that last year. "If you heard wrong statements, explain to them that this is the goal and that unless it is done, it will become an issue, which will not be good," he stated.
Communities of Jokowi's supporters that attended the gathering included Bara JP, KIB, Seknas, Sekber Jokowi, Lembang I, Cemara 19, Relawan Merah Putih, Kawan Jokowi, Gerakan Nasional Rakyat, Kebangkitan Indonesia Baru, Gerakan Relawan Indonesia, Arus Bawah Jokowi, Srikandi Jokowi, EP for Jokowi, Pospera, and Cakra Naga.
On the occasion, President Jokowi also held a dialog with the volunteers and met with leaders of the communities who presented him with five declarations. These included a call to evaluate and strengthen the cabinet and the need to ensure that economic development and acceleration of infrastructure development are both carried out with the spirit of self-reliance. (WDY)
