Jokowi Responds to SBY's 'Concerns' Over Him Meddling in 2024 Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 6th Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) on June 26, 2023, launched a book titled The President Can Do No Wrong, 2024 Presidential Election & President Jokowi's ‘Cawe-Cawe’ (Cawe-cawe means intervention).

The 27-page book with red brick and black covers is the personal opinion of the army general who was born in Pacitan, East Java. This is as noted on the first page, “What I express in this publication is entirely my view and opinion. I respect those who disagree.”

In his book, the former president and founder of the Democrat Party frankly talked about his stance in response to Jokowi’s statement that the latter would cawe-cawe, a Javanese term for meddling, in the forthcoming presidential election, especially in determining the candidates. 

SBY seemed to express his worries that the current president would promote a specific presidential and vice presidential candidate while hampering other candidates to vie in the election. 

A week after the book was released, Jokowi made a response. He asserted that the government would keep providing support for the 2024 elections both in terms of security and logistics distribution.

“I think I have repeatedly said that the organizer of the general election is the KPU. The government is providing support, both in terms of security and logistics distribution,” he remarked at the Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Base, Jakarta, as quoted from Antara on Monday, July 3, 2023.

He also emphasized the neutrality of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), as well as the state civil apparatus (ASN). “We really have to keep our bureaucracy to stay neutral. So there's no need, no need to worry about that,” Jokowi said.

KUKUH S. WIBOWO

Editor's Choice: Jokowi Heads to Australia and Papua New Guinea to Attend Annual Leaders Meeting

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News