TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The DKI Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, a.k.a. Jokowi, criticized the attitudes of elite politicians who were reluctant to blend in with people on the grassroots. This statement was made during his speech at the "Leading with Heart" seminar at the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) on Friday, June 28.
He continued that his leadership concept was simple, which is hearing out people's complaints. "This is a horizontal era, not vertical. This formula also applies in both government and private sectors," said Jokowi in front of hundreds of college students and academias of UII.
He stated his reason of rarely being in his office or limiting the number of unimportant meetings was to allocate more time to learn public matters first hand. Jokowi said all government levels were easily deceived by statistics and often being too busy planning things, therefore they rarely had time to make visits. "With visits, people feel that seventy percent of their problems are solved, it's even better if it can be solved right away," he said.
It also gave assurance to the people that the government was analyzing their problems and trying to find solution. "People like real things, though it is small," he stated.
Although, he admitted that he could not possibly solve all of Jakarta's problems in such a short time. Efforts to understand and initiating multi-sector improvements were the most possible things he could ever done. "Therefore, I am mobile everyday to collect data.”
ADDI MAWAHIBUN IDHOM
