BMP Papua Appreciates Jokowi-Ma'ruf's Performance: Infrastructure Development Begins to Be Felt Again

JAKARTA - The General Secretary of the Barisan Merah Putih (BMP) Papua Province, Wusabek Wantik, appreciated the development during the Jokowi Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin era during the last 2 years because the Papuan people really felt it. Previously, the New Order government built education and health facilities in this province.

"Now in the Jokowi era, infrastructure development in the form of roads and bridges is not only in Papua and West Papua, but also in many other provinces," Wusabek said in his written statement, quoted from Antara, Sunday, October 17.

It was also emphasized that the development that took place in Papua was starting to be felt again in Papua. In Papua and West Papua, for example, transportation facilities are now really good, not inferior to the capital city. The price of fuel and cement that used to be very high, only during the Jokowi era the price of fuel and cement fell, even the same as the price on the island of Java.

After almost 2 years of being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, now the economy and community activities, both on the streets and at the market, are starting to get busy.

"Now the situation is back to normal and good. I see that the roads have started to jam, land, sea, and air transportation activities have also returned to normal, and the markets are already crowded," said Wusabek.

Social assistance provided by the government in the form of basic necessities as a way to help the community during the pandemic is evenly distributed, even for Papua and Kalimantan islands. Mamas and grandmothers in Papua also received assistance during the pandemic.

Regarding the vaccination program, Wusabek considered that it was running well, especially in urban areas, including Papua, where people were more self-aware to carry out health procedures and follow vaccinations in an orderly manner.

"We clearly support the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination. I myself have been vaccinated at the vaccine booth organized by the Central Jakarta Police and the Metro Jaya Police in Kramat, Central Jakarta. It feels like being re-immunized when I was a child," said Wusabek when sharing his experience while undergoing vaccine.

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure development, the Papua Province BMP supports President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

"We support the Government in handling and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, which has received appreciation from the international community," he said.

In addition, his party also supports the Jokowi government in the development of infrastructure, roads, dams, irrigation, bridges, airports, and the development of border areas and others.

Appreciation and support for the work of the Jokowi-Ma'ruf government were also conveyed by Muslim leaders as well as the Chief of the Tribe and Commander of the Hilapok Tribe War, Toufik Ismail Hilapok.

According to him, with the development of infrastructure, starting from the New Order era until now, it was only in the era of President Jokowi that infrastructure existed in Papua. In fact, Jokowi has come to Papua many times.

The same thing was also expressed by the Jiwika Village apparatus, Kurulu District as well as the Dani Tribal Chief Udin Wardek Wuka. He said that so far, roads and electricity had never entered the tribal village. It was only in the era of President Jokowi that electricity could enter and roads began to exist even though they were not yet paved. In fact, Waimena Papua is already easy to reach.

"I strongly support Jokowi's government," he said.

A statement of support for the Jokowi-Ma'ruf government was also conveyed by a member of the Papua Province BMP Abraham Jempor who expressed his appreciation for the government's success in restoring the national economy which had slumped due to the pandemic.

"We encourage the government's success in economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highly commend the performance of the Jokowi-Ma'ruf government which has succeeded in leading and developing Indonesia. Hopefully, it will be more advanced, sovereign, just, and prosperous," said Abraham.