TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The presidential advisory board (Wantimpres), led by former Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, paid a visit to Tempo headquarters on Monday to introduce the team’s main tasks and functions.

Wiranto used the opportunity to elaborate its tasks and asserted that his role as the Wantimpres coordinator was to provide President Jokowi with expert advice on the government’s entire policy-making.

“We must discern the President’s tasks and plans, and we must also understand what the people want,” said Wiranto during his visit to Tempo in West Palmerah, South Jakarta, on Monday, January 20.

Wiranto maintained that mass media beared a significant role in understanding people’s aspirations as they were the front line for information. “This is why we came here, it is to be committed to obtaining information,” he said.

However, Wiranto acknowledged that not every piece of advice would be recognized by the President, but assured that each and every idea produced by the Wantimpres would be presented to President Jokowi. “Asked or not, we will present it to the President. It would be up to the President to accept it or not,” said Wiranto.

Accompanying Wiranto during the visit were other Wantimpres members, viz. Putri Kus Wisnu Wardhani, Maulana Al-Habib Muhammad Luhtfi bin Ali bin Yahya or Habib Luthfi, Mardiono Bakar, Arifin Panigoro, and Sidarto Danusubroto.

ANDITA RAHMA