Government Utilizes Technology to Improve Public Service: Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Government needs to utilize technology advances to improve public service, given the current global development that has entered the era of digital reform, stated presidential candidate number 01 Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Therefore, reforms in public services are needed through the use of information and electronic technology such as e-government, e-procurement and e-budgeting to prepare (ourselves) for entering the digital era," Jokowi explained at the fourth round of presidential debate in Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday evening.

In addition to the use of technology, the future government needs to cut bureaucracy in order to improve efficiency.

During his administration, Jokowi had dissolved 23 institutions with the aim of making the government more lean, agile and quick to decide on policies.

Read also: Prabowo Accused of Defending Caliphate, Jokowi as Communist

The improvement of civil servants' capacity is another task that must be carried out for a better governance, he added.

Governance is among the topics being discussed by Jokowi and his contender, Prabowo Subianto, at the fourth round of presidential debate.

The other three topics are ideology, international relations, defense and security.

Indonesia will organize legislative and presidential elections simultaneously on April 17, 2019, across the country.

The 2019 presidential election is seen by many as a repeat of the bitter presidential battle of 2014, wherein Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Prabowo Subianto went head-to-head.

Seeking a second term, 57-year-old Jokowi has picked Ma'ruf Amin (75), chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), as his partner, while retired general Prabowo Subianto (67) has chosen Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (49), a successful entrepreneur and former deputy governor of Jakarta, as his running mate.

ANTARA