Jokowi Is Angry With Imports, Rizal Ramli: Fires Officials Who Love Imports, Not Messed Up

JAKARTA - Senior economist Rizal Ramli criticized the reaction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who knew that the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Budget (APBD) were widely used by ministries and regions for spending on products from abroad or imported. Jokowi has threatened to reshuffle if the action continues.

According to Rizal, Jokowi has the prerogative to dismantle the cabinet if the ministry is not running according to the president's vision. He said the effort to vent emotions in public is not more important than assertiveness.

"Jokes that aren't funny anymore? The president formulates policies, fires officials who like imports, that's just true. Not only mumbling, left-right speeches, but the opposite reality. When will you be aware", Rizal said on his Twitter account, @RamliRizal on Friday, March 25th.

Previously, Jokowi was angry because government agencies were still spending their budget on imported products. In fact, domestic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can still produce goods needed by agencies.

He also mentioned a number of products that are still imported by the agency, one of which is CCTV. "What is this. We don't think we are a developed country, we just buy CCTV to buy imports", said Jokowi.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta then highlighted the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who is still importing hospital beds and medical equipment. According to him, the goods are produced in Yogyakarta, Bekasi and Tangerang.

Not only the Minister of Health, Jokowi also mentioned the Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, who imported agricultural machinery. "Minister of Agriculture. Tractors are not just imported high-tech. I'm annoyed", Jokowi growled.

Then, pencils, paper, notebooks, chairs, and laptops also still use foreign products. The same applies to shoes and military and police uniforms purchased from other countries.

Jokowi threatened to impose sanctions on local governments that still import goods. He asked the Minister of Finance to cut the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) and withhold the General Allocation Fund (DAU) for regions that have not spent their budget on local products.

Furthermore, the Head of State asked the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) to replace the main director who was still importing.

The same goes for the ministry. Jokowi will reshuffle ministers if they are still importing. "Ministry, it's the same but that's my part. Reshuffle", said President Jokowi.