The president is coalescing with the people and not with the Great Indonesia or Red-White coalitions.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo is currently being put directly in confrontation with the people, a pro-Jokowi leader said.

"The ongoing conflict between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police (Polri) has put President Joko Widodo in a situation where he has to choose whether he is pro or against the people," national chief of a group of presidents supporters, Budi Arie Setiadi, said at a discussion here on Saturday.

He added that certain quarters had created an agenda in their own interests, which is why the conflict was no longer a political issue but one related to the leaderships policy that would have a direct impact on the publics confidence.

Jokowi, as the president is also known, is still on the right track and will adopt a policy that will benefit the people.

"The president must not be separated from peoples issues, as Jokowi is, indeed, their choice," Setiadi remarked.

He further noted that if the president remained pro-people, he would remain strong because his coalition is actually a peoples coalition.

"The president is coalescing with the people and not with the Great Indonesia or Red-White coalitions," Setiadi pointed out.

It is not easy for a leader to settle a problem when he is continuously being pressured by individuals in the state administration itself, with its impact having the potential to hurt the public.

Referring to the case involving Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, Setiadi stated that many politicians had asked the president to inaugurate him as the national police chief immediately, (despite the fact that he had been named as a suspect in an alleged case of corruption). However, their calls have not been heard by him, so far, which indicates that Jokowi still has a lot of factors to take into account.

Moreover, the president should have chosen cabinet members who are loyal and whose vision and mission are the same as his to prevent any hidden agenda that would only hurt his reputation, he observed.

Setiadi hoped that all cabinet members would support President Jokowis policies and performance, and would not find faults with him that would hurt his reputation.

"If all cabinet members are credible, all programs and policies will certainly be able to be implemented smoothly," he affirmed.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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