Replace Anies Baswedan, Heru Budi Asked Jokowi To Solve Flood Problems And Congestion: There Must Be Significant Developments

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) Heru Budi Hartono (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo asked the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, who was elected as Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta to replace Anies Baswedan, to overcome the main problems of Jakarta, such as traffic jams and flooding.

"Yesterday I conveyed to Pak Heru, especially the main problem in DKI Jakarta, traffic jams, flooding must have significant progress," Jokowi said at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday, October 10, quoted from Antara.

Heru Budi Hartono was appointed as Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta at the Final Assessment Team Meeting (TPA) led by President Jokowi at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday afternoon (7/10).

"I've known Mr. Heru for a long time, since (I) what I was, the mayor in DKI; then when I was holding my financial body I knew very well the track record (Heru) in terms of work, capacity, ability, I know everything," said Jokowi.

The President also assessed that Heru has good communication skills with anyone.

"So we hope that there will be accelerations, including those related to spatial planning," added Jokowi.

Heru was chosen as Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta to get rid of two other candidates, namely DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary Marullah and Director General of Politics and General Administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs Bachtiar.

The TPA meeting was also attended by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Azwar Anas, as well as representatives of institutions from the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Center for Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis (PPATK), as well as the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance.

Prior to serving as Vice President since 2017, Heru Budi Hartono was the Head of the 2015 Regional Asset Financial Management Agency (BPKAD) during the leadership of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) as Governor of DKI Jakarta. Heru Budi Hartono at that time was trusted by Ahok to take care of the normalization of the Pluit Reservoir.

In 2014, Heru served as Mayor of North Jakarta when the position of Governor of DKI Jakarta was held by Jokowi. Meanwhile, in 2013, Heru served as Head of the Regional Head Bureau and Overseas Cooperation (Kabiro KDH and KLN) as well as Head of the North Jakarta City Infrastructure and Facilities Section.