Supervised In Sidoarjo Which Rains Burst, Mrs. Iriana Invited Crowded Motorcycles

The dinner of security personnel and escort of wheel vehicles with President Jokowi and Mrs. Iriana (ANTARA/HO-Biro Press Secretariat of the President of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invited motorcycle guards to eat after being tasked with escorting the convoy of RI 1 vehicles in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Monday, February 6 last night.

The invitation was conveyed by the First Lady after the motorcyclists served under heavy rain all the way to the restaurant where they lived at night, according to a statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat received in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 7 in the morning WIB.

Through the commander, the First Lady sent a message asking all security personnel including the bodyguards of two-wheeled vehicles to eat together at the venue.

One of the escort officers, Herfanto, initially couldn't believe it when he heard the message. But he welcomed his first opportunity to eat with the President and First Lady.

"This is the first time we have also been invited to eat with the First Lady, it was conveyed to my commander earlier while on the road," said Herfanto, as quoted by Antara.

Usually, the team guarding the President's and First Lady's motorbikes eats food not far from the vehicle for the efficiency of movement speed.

Therefore, Herfanto admitted that the opportunity to have a dinner together was an honor and pride in itself.

"It is an honor in itself, the pride of us being able to eat together (President Jokowi and the First Lady)," he said.

Another member of the motorcycle guard, Widi, admitted that he was unable to express other words than being happy while adding that he was happy for the attention that had been given by the President and First Lady.

"We usually eat when we finish the escort, eat boxed rice. This is the same with you, and you are allowed to eat together, yes, we feel happy and shocked. Feel happy to pay attention," said Widi.

The same thing was conveyed by another presidential escort personnel, Hendri, who thanked the concern shown by the President and First Lady to himself and his colleagues.

"I thank you very much because you really care for the guards to be in a situation like this, we are invited to eat together," he said.

Also attending the dinner together were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, SOE Minister Erick Thohir, and East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

President Jokowi and First Lady are in East Java on a working visit. Both are scheduled to attend the peak reception for the commemoration of the 1st Century Nahdlatul Ulama at Gelora Delta Sidoarjo, Tuesday.