Some Regions Harbor Aspirations of Jokowi on Development Program

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After the Constitutional Court's decision to reject all claims of presidential candidate pair Prabowo-Sandi, thereby strengthening Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Ma'aruf's victory, several regions began voicing their aspirations of development being continued by Jokowi in their respective regions.

The regions expressing hopes are located in the western tip of Aceh Province and eastern tip of Papua. West Aceh District Head Ramli MS pinned high hopes on President Jokowi continuing various development programs in Aceh Province during the second term of his leadership along with Vice President-elect KH Ma'ruf Amin.

"During Jokowi's leadership, the direction of Indonesia's development, including in Aceh, was increasingly more focused. We are optimistic that Jokowi would continue to give priority to Aceh in all fields of development," West Aceh District Head H Ramli MS had stated in Meulaboh on Saturday.

Several development programs implemented until now in Aceh by President Jokowi comprise the construction of toll roads, Lhok Guci irrigation reservoirs in West Aceh, airports and various other strategic programs to boost progress and welfare of people in this area.

This also demonstrated that President Jokowi has, so far, emerged as a leader, who truly cares for the people in Aceh, Ramli, concurrently chairman of the West Aceh District chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU/the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, stated.

To this end, Ramli MS is optimistic that President Jokowi would continue to prioritize Aceh in various development programs to boost the welfare and economy of people in the area.

To ensure the development program in Aceh runs better in future, he expressed hope that the regional governments in Aceh, especially districts and cities, would be directly involved in monitoring and managing budgets, through special allocation funds and general allocation funds.

This aims to ease the implementation of development programs in the regions in tune with the aspirations and expectations of the people in Aceh.

"We hope to receive the president's approval for this budget management proposal, so that President Joko Widodo's joy in witnessing the improved welfare of people in the region will be realized as per expectations," he added.

Ramli MS also reiterated that the West Aceh district government would continue to wholeheartedly support all development programs implemented by the central government in the regions for the progress of the nation.

"I congratulate Pak (Mr) Joko Widodo and Pak (Mr)  KH Ma'ruf Amin as the elected presidents and vice presidents. We are confident that in the hands of Pak Jokowi, Indonesia would turn out to be more advanced and developed. I am certain that he will become a unifying factor for the nation and all people in this beloved Republic of Indonesia," Ramli MS noted.

Moreover, Papua seeks Jokowi's steady and undivided attention to build a community in Papua and perhaps increasing in the second term of his leadership.

People in different districts and cities in Indonesia's eastern region are also hopeful following the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin pair being elected as president and vice president of the Republic of Indonesia.

Various government programs have been applied by President Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's work cabinet during the 2014 leadership period. In 2019, significant attention was paid to develop infrastructure in Papua, such as the Jalan Trans Papua, Holtekan Bridge, Jayapura City, sea highway transportation, and air tolls; provide housing; and develop flight facilities at various airports. In fact, it has made a real contribution to the community in Papua through the implementation of the one-price fuel oil policy in Papua.

Other programs are the provision of village funds, rice for the poor, Smart Indonesia Cards, the Family Hope Program,  that on health services, and the Healthy Indonesia Card.

Director of the NGO Fiaduru Biak Yahya Marandof is harboring high hopes of the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin pair, during their 2019-2024 term, continuing to develop the land of Papua, so that the community is able to derive benefits through equitable distribution of the outcomes of various development programs.

Marandof noted that people in Papua viewed President Jokowi as a simple, populist, and caring leader based on the various infrastructure development programs being implemented for Papuans.

Various programs that continue to receive Jokowi's attention for the betterment of the people of Papua include equitable development, provision of basic infrastructure, education, health, and economic empowerment of the community, specifically of indigenous Papuans.

Marandof is also optimistic that the pair emerging victorious in the 2019 Presidential Election would bring greater prosperity to the people in Papua, who will be able to witness equitable development.

Marandof stated that other programs necessitating President Jokowi's attention, especially for Papuans, cover improving the quality of basic health services at regional public hospitals and health centers in 29 districts and cities.

This basic health service is highly coveted by the indigenous Papuans, who predominantly live in various islands, mountains, and the foremost villages, as well as the outer regions of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

ANTARA

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