President Jokowi's Charisma, Trying Sei Alalak Bridge Banjarmasin Using Rantis Local Taste With Uncle Birin

BANJARMASIN - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) boarded the P6 ATAV V1 tactical vehicle (Rantis) belonging to the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) to test the Sei Alalak Bridge in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Kalsel), which was just inaugurated today.

The President boarded the P6 ATAV V1 attack squadron with the South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor (Uncle Birin) and Banjarmasin Mayor Ibnu Sina who sat in the second row seats.

Before trying out the Sei Alalak Bridge, which is said to be able to last up to 100 years, the President took a ride on a cruise when he departed from the COVID-19 vaccination site at Dr. RSUD. H. Moch. Ansari Saleh, to the location of the bridge.

From Dr. Hospital. H. Moch. Ansari Saleh to the Sei Alalak Bridge, President Jokowi boarded the rantis with SOE Minister Erick Thohir and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno who sat in the second row seats.

However, when testing the Sei Alalak Bridge, based on an official statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat, President Jokowi rode the rantis with the Governor of South Kalimantan and the Mayor of Banjarmasin. The president looked dashing wearing a white shirt over rantis.

After that, the President and his entourage headed to Syamsudin Noor Air Force Base, Banjarbaru City, and then took off back to Jakarta.

This is not the first time the President has climbed the rantis. During a working visit to Tarakan on October 19, 2021, the President also boarded the P6 ATAV V1 attack vehicle to greet the people of Tarakan City, North Kalimantan.

According to the Commander of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) Major General (Mayjen) Tri Budi Utomo at the time, President Jokowi wanted to introduce domestically produced tactical attack vehicles.

“We know that the President always wants to introduce local products, from drinks, food, shoes, jackets, to custom motorcycles. This time the President introduced a domestically assembled tactical attack vehicle, except for the engine," Tri Budi said at the time.

The Sei Alalak Bridge is a strategic infrastructure that is the main access route for Banjarmasin City with various areas in South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. The bridge, which was built at a cost of Rp278 billion, is also expected to overcome congestion after the southern ring road was damaged and destroyed by flooding in early 2021.

The Sei Alalak Bridge has a length of 850 meters and a width of 20 meters. The cable stayed bridge was also built using high technology.

"Built with high technology and earthquake-resistant, it is estimated that it will last up to 100 years, God willing," said President Jokowi when inaugurating the Sei Alalak Bridge.