The president's instruction is clear, so do not debate it anymore
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Moeldoko urged the public to no longer debate on the extension of Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) presidential term that would end in 2024.

"The president's instruction is clear, so do not debate it anymore. I urge the public to cease the debate on this discourse," Moeldoko stated at the KSP office here on Wednesday.

The KSP head remarked that the government's current focus was to address ongoing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The government is currently also focusing on considering policies to respond to effects of the Russian-Ukrainian war. We have prepared possible scenarios on the effects of the war on the economy," the agency head remarked.

Moeldoko urged stakeholders and residents to think forward for the nation's future by ceasing deliberations on the extension of President Jokowi's current term or possible modification of the constitutionally-mandated two-term limit.

Earlier, Indonesian Association of Rural Governments (APDESI) Chairperson Surta Wijaya, during the association assembly attended by President Jokowi on Tuesday (Mar 29), stated that the organisation will officially declare its endorsement for the president to run for a third term after Eid al-Fitr next May.

Responding to various popular discourses that endorse extension to the current presidential term, Jokowi affirmed that residents and officials must abide by provisions of the 1945 Constitution that restrict the executive to only two terms.

"We often hear such aspirations from members of the public, but it is clear that our Constitution has mandated (the presidential term limit), and we need to abide by the Constitution," he stated during his visit to Magelang, Central Java, on Wednesday (Mar 30).

Moreover, the Indonesian Students Alliance (AMI) protesting on Friday (Apr 1) threatened to organise larger protests if the proposed delay to the general election and the extension to the presidential term is passed.

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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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