AHY Denies Coalition For Change Will Change All Current Government Programs

Chairman of the DPP Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) (left) during a press conference after a political speech in Jakarta, Friday, July 14, 2023. (ANTARA-Genta T M).

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DPP Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasized that the vision of change promoted by the Change Coalition does not mean replacing the total existing policies and development programs.

AHY explained that good government work programs must certainly be maintained, continued, and even improved.

We heard the concerns of a number of circles. The changes seem to be interpreted, as an effort to completely replace what is already there. Of course not. We will maintain policies and arrangements that are already good. We will continue. And we are grateful, because many have been produced by the nation's leaders, since Indonesia's independence," AHY said when delivering his political speech in Jakarta, Friday, July 14 evening, was confiscated by Antara.

AHY pun menegaskan perubahan tidak berarti menghapus segala pencapaian dan kebijakan-kebijakan yang terbukti berdampak positif bagi kehidupan rakyat.

"Even though the Democratic Party carries a change agenda, it does not mean that we have neglected what President Joko Widodo's government has done so far. On the other hand, we actually express our appreciation to the government, for all its hard work. We believe that President Jokowi and his government, want to do their best. We pray that, in the future President Jokowi, can end his term well," said AHY.

However, AHY said that Democrats have different values and perspectives on various government policies and programs that are currently running.

Therefore, AHY in his speech also offered alternative approaches to policies that he thought needed to be evaluated in the future.

For example, related to the economy and welfare, AHY highlighted a number of infrastructure developments that are currently running, according to him, the implementation could be postponed.

He assessed that the costs disbursed for the development of several large-scale infrastructures could be diverted to improve the welfare of the community, including labor groups, civil servants, farmers, fishermen, teachers, honorary staff, and other underprivileged and empowered communities.

AHY emphasized that the vision of change carried out by the Change Coalition does not mean replacing the total existing policies and development programs.

AHY explained that Indonesia's economic structure is still dominated by domestic or domestic consumption. Thus, increasing people's purchasing power is important.

However, it becomes difficult when workers' salaries do not go up. If it is associated with inflation, their salaries actually continue to decline. This is clearly unfair. This policy must be changed and improved," said AHY.

He also suggested that there should be a wiser determination of priorities in the future, especially in the use of the state budget.

"It is better for us to focus on increasing people's income and purchasing power, so that the economy continues to move and continue to grow. If the economy grows, state revenues will also increase. Unemployment and poverty will decrease," said the Chairman of the Democrats.

In the same speech, AHY also highlighted other problems, namely related to human resources and the environment, law and justice, democracy and people's freedom, then state administration and government ethics.