Don't Put Billboards Like Ms. Ganjar: I Was Ordered By The President And The General Chairman To Deal With COVID-19

JAKARTA - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo admits that he is focusing on handling the COVID-19 pandemic rather than following a number of politicians who have started putting up billboards related to the 2024 Presidential Election.

Ganjar explained that this was in accordance with orders from President Joko Widodo and General Chairperson of the PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Even though I have only one task now, I was ordered by the President, by the General Chair, I am dealing with COVID, Mas. Wis I don't mind thinking about kuwi (candidate billboards)," said Ganjar when met by several media crews at the Central Java Governor's office, Semarang, reported by Antara, Thursday, August 12.

Ganjar emphasized that he is currently focusing on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, although its spread is starting to decline.

"I think that this COVID sek piye carane will soon be over and now it's sloping down. I've seen malls, people are selling things, I'm starting to be happy," he said. Apart from that, Ganjar feels it is inappropriate to discuss the issue of the 2024 presidential election when people currently need more attention to handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"People today need it again, I don't think it's appropriate to say my kuwi," he said.

A number of political party elites began to install large billboards at strategic points as an effort to increase their respective popularity regarding the 2024 presidential election. The billboards belonged to, among others, Puan Maharani from the PDIP and Airlangga Hatarto from the Golkar Party.