TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that he will use the opportunity of visiting the Bogor Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to clarify one of many slanders that he is accused of, such as the accusation suggesting Jokowi is an ‘antek asing’ or literally translated as a foreigner’s lackey / foreign nation`s lackey.
“Now is the right time for me to respond. This is the first time ever I talk of such issue in front of many Ulemas and hopeful future Ulemas,” said Jokowi at the Bogor Regent’s headquarters on Wednesday, August 8.
Jokowi assertively refused to be considered as a foreigner’s lackey, which he said is proven by the fact that the Mahakam Block is fully taken over by state-owned energy company Pertamina, despite 100 percent being owned by Japan prior to that. He also mentioned the Rokan Block that Pertamina is taking over Chevron.
The President also mentioned about the head of agreement (HoA) deal regarding Freeport. Jokowi said that the negotiation between Indonesia and Freeport had lasted for a tiresome 3.5 years. He was made confused after his achievement was met with negative responses.
“I do not understand, people kept silent when Indonesia only owned 9.3 percent for 40 years prior. Now the 51 percent HoA deal is not backed entirely. The society should have backed the deal so that it can be entirely managed by the nation. How could that make me a foreigner’s lackey,” said President Jokowi.
Another issue he felt needed further clarification is the issue of foreign workers in Indonesia, especially the ones from China. Jokowi openly said that there are only 23,000 Chinese workers in Indonesia – merely less than one percent of Indonesia’s citizens - which is far off the allegations that Indonesia is accommodating 10 million Chinese workers.
President Jokowi compared it to Malaysia and China that has respectively 1.2 million and 80,000 legal Indonesian migrant workers but has not created any uproar in both of the countries mentioned.
FRISKI RIANA
