The ministers have been advised to pray (for the President's mother) from their respective places and focus on working to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to ministers to pray for his deceased mother and continue to focus on handling the coronavirus, or COVID-19 pandemic.

"The ministers have been advised to pray from their respective places and focus on working to contain the COVID-19 outbreak," Communication and Information Minister Johnny G Plate said on Wednesday in Jakarta.

The President wants the ministers to urgently address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health as well as on the social and economic life of the people, Plate said.

"The ministers (must) focus on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its medical and non-medical impact," he said.

President Jokowi's mother, Sujiatmi Notomiharjo, breathed her last around 4:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday in her hometown Solo, Central Java Province. She was 77.

Presidential spokesman Angkie Yudistia said she did not die of a coronavirus infection.

"Almarhumah (Thank God) she did not die of coronavirus," he said.

Born on February 15, 1943, Sujiatmi was married to Widjiatno Notomiharjo. They had four children. President Joko Widodo, their first child, was born in Solo, Central Java, on June 21, 1961.

President Jokowi landed in Solo at 5:52 p.m. local time on Wednesday to pay his last respects to his mother. He rushed to the mourning house soon after arriving in his hometown.



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Translator: Indra Arief Pribadi/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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