Democratic politician: Jokowi attracts state institutions for political benefits

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Democratic politician Ferdinand Hutahaean criticized President Joko Widodo for wanting to complete an infrastructure project before the presidential election of 2019. Ferdinand felt that Jokowi was using his authority for personal purposes.

"It is clear that Jokowi is manipulating the ranks of state institutions to work desperately outside of his schedule to gain political gains," Ferdinand said on Wednesday (28.11.2018).

Ferdinand said, an infrastructure project usually has a schedule. Infrastructure projects also have financial planning. If everything is accelerated, Ferdinand said that the financial performance of the project would be disrupted.

"For his political interests, Jokowi was forced to change everything under the pretext of speeding up," he said.

He considered that what Jokowi had done was included in the category of office abuses.

Read also: Jokowi inaugurated the 51-kilometer Sragen-Ngawi toll road

Jokowi's recognition

President Joko Widodo admitted to having accelerated infrastructure development, one of which was in the interest of the 2019 elections.

This was conveyed by Jokowi at the annual meeting of Bank Indonesia 2018 at JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (27/11/2018).

Jokowi first spoke of the Bakauheni-Palembang toll road. The toll road is expected to be completed by June 2019.

Jokowi however requested that the process be expedited. The head of state wants the project to be completed by April 2019.

"I'm not talking about May or June, I'm asking April, why April, you know, I asked Bakauheni to end in Palembang in April, nothing, it's a different spirit." so can we use it for Eid, "says Jokowi laughing. .

Read also: Continue the infrastructure completed before the presidential election, Jokowi wants to add his list of achievements

"But that also includes the election.We already have unceremoniously Jokowi continued.

Voting in the parliamentary elections and the 2019 presidential election will take place on April 17. Eid al-Fitr 1440 Hijri or Eid should fall on June 4th and 5th.

In addition to the Bakauheni-Palembang toll road, according to Jokowi, many more infrastructures will be inaugurated before the 2019 elections.

The toll road connecting Jakarta to Surabaya will be connected in December 2018. The other infrastructure projects that will also be officially operational are the port of Kuala Tanjung, the province of North Sumatra and the new port of Makbadar.

In addition, the third or last runway of Soekarno-Hatta Airport will also be operational.

"I do not know, how is it that everything is finished before the elections, I do not understand myself," said Jokowi, once again greeted by laughter from the audience.