Lieus Sungkharisma Calls The Borobudur Temple Stupa Meme, Jokowi's Face Appears After Rising Ticket Prices, He Says 'Why Should You Be Angry?'

Roy Suryo with Lieus Sungkharisma at Polda Metro Jaya, Thursday, June 30, 2022/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Buddhist social activist Lieus Sungkharisma considers the emergence of the Borobudur Temple stupa meme that resembles the face of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the aftermath of the government's decision to increase the price of admission to the tourist area.

Lieus made this statement when accompanying Roy Suryo who was about to undergo an examination of the Borobudur Temple stupa meme case as a reporter at the Polda Metro Jaya.

"What is this because of what happened? (the meme, ed) because the government has increased the ticket to the upper mandala (Brobudur Temple, ed) from Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 750 thousand," Lieus told reporters, Thursday, June 30.

However, Lieus regretted the decision of the parties who reported Roy Suryo in the aftermath of this stupa meme case. Because, when the ticket price increase occurred they did not give any response.

"I regret that young people who make reports at the Polda and Bareskrim are silent when ticket prices are raised, how come no one has commented," he said.

Regardless of that, Lieus as a Buddhist admitted that he was not offended by the appearance of the meme. The reason is that the meme juxtaposes the face of Jokowi, who in fact is the President of Indonesia.

"This is the face of the Indonesian president, the face of a president with 6 religions in Indonesia, why must he be angry. Mr. Jokowi also has no angry or offended statement," said Lieus.

For information, previously the government through the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said it would increase the entrance fee to Borobudur Temple from Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 750 thousand. The plan to increase the entrance ticket price is to limit tourists to Borobudur Temple by setting a quota of 1,200 tourists. Based on the quota policy, there will be a special price rule, for domestic tourists of Rp. 750,000, foreign tourists of 100 US dollars, and for students (school study tour groups / non-individual) Rp. 5,000.

Later the plan to increase the entrance fee to Borobudur Temple was decided to be postponed. Luhut postponed because the discourse he threw reaped the pros and cons.