Sandiaga Holds Tasbih After The Minister's Oath

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno (Photo: Istagram @sandiuno)

JAKARTA - Sandiaga Uno was caught on camera holding a prayer beads when President Joko Widodo's batik became Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menpanekraf) replacing Wishnutama Kusubandio.

After the inauguration ceremony, the media crew immediately asked about his prayer beads. However, Gerindra Party politicians do not want to say much. He just laughed when asked that.

"It looks yes (the prayer beads)," Sandiaga said at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 23.

Sandiaga's prayer beads were seen when President Joko Widodo congratulated him by raising his hand. Sandiaga also greeted Jokowi in return. This is where the tasbih Sandi appears.

"I say to my media friends this is a very tough task," Sandi said.

Sandiaga Uno, after being inaugurated as a minister, said he would discuss with the ranks at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy regarding the possibility of developing the OK-OCE program. This program is Sandiaga's pilot when advancing in the Pilgub DKI.

"We'll see together with colleagues here," said Sandiaga Uno.

Sandiaga said that he had just received a report from the OK OCE movement association in the field that most of his assisted members were engaged in the tourism sector and the creative economy.

This fact is a huge potential that can be worked on as an effort to revive the tourism sector and the creative economy which was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Sandiaga admitted that he did not want to be rash and rushed but to discuss it further with his internal ranks at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

"We just got reports from friends in the OK OCE movement association that in their data they have almost 70 percent of them engaged in the tourism sector and the creative economy, so but we don't want to be in a hurry to discuss it with the ranks," he said.

Sandiaga realizes that the COVID-19 pandemic is a big challenge for the tourism sector and the creative economy so that it requires concrete efforts to develop it.

"However, we must be optimistic that the tourism sector and the creative economy will definitely recover and bounce back soon, as this pandemic is overcoming," said Sandiaga.

According to the former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, the tourism and creative economy sectors are strategic sectors that contribute foreign exchange as well as the fastest and largest job creation.

"It is very important in our efforts to recover our economy," said Sandiaga.