President Yudhoyono said as a result of his blusukan in villages, he could see the progress that had been made and credited it to the hard work of village heads and their staff.
Bantul, Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono claimed that he has been conducting "blusukan" to meet people in Indonesia since 2004.

"From 2004 to date, I have often conducted blusukan," he said while inaugurating the national working meeting of the Association of Village Administrations in Indonesia (Apdesi) at Yogyakarta Expo Center here on Monday.

"Blusukan" is a Javanese noun that means "visiting areas that are not commonly visited." The term has gained widespread use following Joko Widodos action of visiting locations where the working class live, while campaigning for the Jakarta governorship. Joko Widodo, or Jokowi as he is popularly called, is the governor of Jakarta and is currently running for presidency.

President Yudhoyono said as a result of his blusukan in villages, he could see the progress that had been made and credited it to the hard work of village heads and their staff.

"I have seen changes in their choice of homes, motorbikes, phones, clothing, schools and health centers," he stated.

He thanked the village heads, who, he remarked, were the vanguards of development efforts in villages.

"I hope the development efforts of the past decade will not stop; they must be increased to further develop the villages," he said.

President Yudhoyono has served two five-year terms in office, and his tenure will end later this year.

When asked for a group photo by Apdesi chief Suhardi with the Apdesi members, the president declined, saying he would do it after the April 9 legislative elections at the Bogor Presidential Palace.

President Yudhoyono is also the general chairman of the ruling Democrat Party and is currently assisting the partys campaign for the legislative elections.

"Later, on April 9, so it will be associated with politics," he stated upon rejecting the request for a group photo.

Around three thousand central and regional Apdesi board members from across the country and village heads from the Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces attended the meeting.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Sports Minister Roy Suryo, Coordinating Minister for political, security and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X were also present at the event. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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