TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has confirmed that he will be spending his Eid al-Fitr holidays in his hometown of Solo, Central Java. The Presidential Secretariate Office spokesperson Bey Machmudin on Thursday said the President would not be hosting the usual ‘open house’ in the capital city as Jokowi intends to gather with family members this year.

“It’s been decided that there will be no ‘open house’ so there will be no meetings [in Jakarta]. It will be reserved for other days,” said Bey to Tempo on April 20.

The spokesperson asserted that despite the President not hosting an ‘open house’ gathering, does not mean state officials are banned from doing so. He also said that the President does not require state officials to visit his house in Solo and encouraged government officials to gather with family members too.

“The President also understands that state ministers have family members and relatives they have yet met in a long time. The past three Eid celebrations were under the PPKM (Covid-19 restrictions) that limited public mobility. But now there is no longer any PPKM,” said Machmudin.

President Jokowi has also encouraged those close to him in the Cabinet to use the precious moment to spend time with family members.

“Surely, the President will constantly monitor and receive reports from his state ministers regarding the Eid homecoming during his office leave,” said Bey.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH