Jokowi's Sudden Visit To The Stalled Hambalang Project In Today's Memory, March 18, 2016

Jokowi's inspection of the Hambalang Project during the stalled era of President Yudhoyono's administration. (setkab.go.id)

JAKARTA Memories of today, eight years ago, March 18, 2016, President Jokowi suddenly inspected the stalled Hambalang Project. The visit was like insinuating the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who squandered people's money for projects and became a field of corruption.

Previously, the former President of Indonesia, SBY, was one of the noisy opposition to criticize Jokowi's government. SBY considers the Jokowi government to only know how to build infrastructure, even though the economy is sluggish.

The ability of the Jokowi government in building qualified infrastructure. The structure is present almost throughout the country. The goal is none other than massive economic growth. However, not everyone sees it as an achievement.

Former President of Indonesia, SBY actually saw that massive development was only a government shield to cover other shortcomings. SBY considers nothing wrong with development. He even supports it.

SBY only considers that development in the midst of a sluggish economy is not wise. The government should be able to prioritize the lives of the Indonesian people first. The owner of power must ensure that the people are able to get out of poverty.

SBY admits that job opportunities are growing, but it doesn't make it easy for the Indonesian people to get jobs. They are considered SBY vulnerable to being laid off. He asked President Jokowi to think about such matters.

The government must be able to guard the people to get a job and a decent wage. The criticism was not once or twice that SBY said it. He has repeatedly thrown it. Even sometimes SBY's criticism is accompanied by solutions.

Everything is done so that the government can get input, which must be fixed immediately, and which should be eliminated. SBY asked the government not to be allergic to criticism.

"There are elements in the circle of power that are uncomfortable, even sending messages to me. I think this is a democratic country. Of course, anyone including me has the right to speak."

"I remember a lot when I wasn't in power, the criticism was extraordinary. Attacking, beating like that, but not a little bit so in the circle of power, I don't like being criticized," explained SBY as quoted on the One News page, February 9, 2016.

SBY's repeated criticism continues to be the concern of the Jokowi government. However, suddenly, like responding to President Jokowi's criticism, he actually visited the Hambalang Project which was stalled due to corruption in the SBY era in Sentul, Bogor, West Java on March 18, 2016.

Visits to the construction project of education centers, training, and sports facilities are like silencing the SBY era, which is also active in building infrastructure, but stalled. Jokowi himself admitted that he was sad with the stalled Hambalang Project. He did not want the project to be abandoned.

He asked his staff to evaluate the Hambalang Project. Thankfully it can be continued. Jokowi himself does not worry that his future function will remain a center for education, training, and sports facilities or function for other things.

"Blusukan is not just talking about Pak SBY's legacy, but also his construction which was stopped because there were many corruption cases from there involving Democratic Party figures. Hitting, sarcastic (even) occurred between SBY and Megawati. "

SBY said what was wrong in Megawati, SBY replied, like poco-poco. Go ahead one step, take a step back," said political observer M. Qodari as quoted by Kompas.com page, March 19, 2016.