Jokowi Asks Why People Focus More on Government`s Shortfalls

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently complained about people’s habit of rarely expressing appreciation for the government’s achievements and rather assort to the government’s shortfalls, no matter how small.

An example of the president’s complaint is the 2018 Asian Games that was held several months ago. Despite Indonesian athletes achieving success, the hottest topic of discussion was who took the role of President Jokowi as he rode a motorcycle in the Asian Games opening ceremony.

“The positive ones would seem quiet, but when there is a small mistake there would be protests for three-whole-months in front of the Presidential Palace,” said Jokowi at the State Palace on Wednesday.

Another example according to the president is that no one bothered to ask him what made the Indonesian Asian Games and Asian Para Games athletes be successful in ranking Indonesia fourth and fifth overall.

“How did they manage to rank fourth when it’s usually 17th? I would explain if someone asked, but since no one asked I did not provide an explanation,” said the president.

Jokowi concluded that this tendency is closely related to the fact that the country has entered what experts suggest as a political year. A year where the slightest opportunity would be used as a personal attack, such as the stuntman that replaced Jokowi’s motorcycle-riding scene, which opposition said reflects the president’s untruthfulness.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI