National Press Day, Jokowi: Thank You For Helping Public Education

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Capture YouTube Screenshot of Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo attended the National Press Day event which falls today. Jokowi thanked the press for helping to educate the public through reporting.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all members of the press for helping the government to educate the public to implement health protocols and to help people get correct and precise information," Jokowi said at the State Palace, Tuesday, February 9.

Jokowi admits that he understands that the press, as a private business sector, is also facing difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as health and economic problems.

"I know that the press industry, like other private sectors, is also facing corporate problems, which are also difficult financial problems," he said.

Therefore, Jokowi said that the government would ease the burden on the media industry. Jokowi said that Article 21 of the income tax (PPh) would be borne by the government.

Taxes imposed from salaries, wages, honoraria, allowances or other payments received by media employees, said Jokowi, will be paid by the government until June 2021.

Jokowi continued, the incentives given to other industries were also given to the media industry, including the exemption of electricity subscription.

"The relief and assistance given to the media industry and media crews is indeed insignificant. I need to convey, the government's physical burden is also in a very heavy position,"

"Apart from being hard to deal with health problems, it is also hard to move the economy when the private sector is experiencing a significant slowdown," he said.