Gerindra Spokesperson: President's Visit Cannot Be Replaced by Telephone or Zoom

JAKARTA - Gerindra Party spokesman Bahtra Banong responded to former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Wamenlu) Dino Patti Djalal who suggested President Prabowo Subianto to reduce trips abroad, one of which was to simplify visits by relying on video calls, Zoom calls, or phone calls to communicate with world leaders.

According to Bahtra, the presence of a head of state directly in another country is important to facilitate diplomacy.

"We disagree that it should be simplified that the president's visit does not need to meet directly with other heads of state, just through Zoom or telephone connection. I want to say that the president's presence in every visit meets directly with other leaders of other countries is very needed to meet directly or face to face. Why? Because the president will also bring a delegation of many delegations, for example, Danantara is invited, then Kadin is invited, and the president's presence there is to facilitate diplomacy or negotiations," said Bahtra at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 2.

"So, for example, if there is something to be agreed upon, especially cooperation on matters concerning the economy. And I think we can't simplify it, it can only be through a direct phone call," he continued.

Bahtra emphasized that the president's visit should not only be seen in terms of the cost, but also the impact. In fact, after Prabowo's visit to other countries, he said, the president brought in investments worth trillions of rupiah.

"Mr. Seskab has conveyed that during the president's visit abroad, we have generated investments of approximately Rp. 2.430 trillion. What does that mean? The president's visit uses, of course, the state budget, and Mr. Seskab conveyed that if the budget that was determined was not enough, the president even spent his own money. But we see the impact, that with the visit the president can generate approximately 2.430 trillion more then can be invested in Indonesia," he explained.

"So it shouldn't just be that we are simplifying something and indeed the presence of the president directly meets with other leaders, it is also a form of appreciation for the president towards other heads of state. It is different, for example, if through a telephone call or Zoom with face-to-face contact. If the negotiations meet directly, they can be immediately followed up, especially with the president bringing other groups that are also related to the investment that can be presented in our country," concluded the Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR.