"The reasons include the need to adjust to the readiness of infrastructures. Note that based on our experiences, ministers were not always present at the palace (during such a ceremony)," he remarked at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.
According to Pratikno, several aides of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) are likely to represent the central government in similar ceremonies due to be held in the underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions.
"Understand that some ministers will preside over a ceremony in remote areas. For this reason, we need to communicate with these ministers first," he explained.
He drew attention to Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, who chaired a ceremony for Indonesia's 78th Independence Day last year in Natuna District, Riau Islands Province.
"We have been supporting ministers willing to enliven the celebration of Independence Day in outermost regions," he stated.
The minister further noted that the invitation for ministers to attend the national ceremony at IKN is being managed by the Cabinet Secretariat.
"Mr. Cabinet Secretariat is the one responsible for the invitation, not me," he said.
Pratikno also admitted to having received several letters from those keen to participate in the ceremony in Nusantara.
"We at the Ministry of State Secretariat have received a lot of official and informal letters about interest in joining the ceremony at IKN. Many of them came from religious and social organizations," he revealed.
Earlier, on August 1, Pratikno noted that the government would invite former Indonesian presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to attend the ceremony in Nusantara, which President Jokowi will chair.
The minister stated that former vice presidents will also be invited to participate in a similar ceremony to be led by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in Jakarta.
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Translator: Benardy F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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