In Bali, Jokowi Meets Pro Prabowo-Gibran Volunteers While Eating Lunch

President Jokowi arrived at a restaurant in the Renon area for lunch and met a Balinese figure, Denpasar, Tuesday (31/10/2023). ANTARA/Ni Putu Putri Muliantari

DENPASAR - President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of his working visit to the Island of the Gods took the time to eat lunch while meeting a number of Balinese figures, such as volunteers from the Lower Flow of Jokowi (ABJ) and members of the council to discuss political conditions and plans to develop a mode of light flyover or LRT transportation.

"So Jokowi's Lower Flow was invited by the President to chat casually while having lunch. There was an event then when he was having lunch, he invited his friends to discuss national developments," said ABJ Chairman Michael F Umbas in Denpasar, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 31.

Michael repeated the conversation at the meeting. President Jokowi asked that politics not be complicated, even from his meeting with presidential candidates at the Merdeka Palace, Monday (30/10), Jokowi saw the atmosphere between good and friendly contests.

There was no specific direction from President Jokowi to his volunteer group, his message was that Jokowi's Lower Flow had the right to have its own position.

However, Michael and his group admitted that they had unanimously expressed their support for the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming pair, and the decision was conveyed directly to Jokowi.

"We are more about the figure of Mas Gibran as a guarantee of the future of young people. If that can happen and this will pave the way for young people's politics," he said.

"And the president also said that even regional heads in all parties must be given the opportunity," continued Michael.

Meanwhile, to the Deputy Chairperson of the Bali DPRD I Nyoman Sugawa Korry, the former Mayor of Solo discussed the Balinese economy more, which grew well after the COVID-19 pandemic, and tourists, transportation to support and break the congestion.

"I and the Acting Governor of Bali submitted a request that the LRT be realized immediately, and he responded very well, the LRT to Central Parking (Kuta) was immediately attempted and the Acting Governor suggested that the Governor be able to get through Seminyak to unravel the congestion there," he said.

President Jokowi also explained to the Golkar Party figure that in making the LRT needed large enough funds, to build an underground route, Rp1 trillion per kilometer is needed, while the distance to be built is 16 kilometers.

"So a fund of around Rp. 16 trillion is needed, he (Jokowi) will study it with the relevant ministries," said Sugawa.

The Bali Provincial Government also reported on the readiness to implement regional regulations related to levies for foreign tourists amounting to IDR 150 thousand, which according to the wishes of the President the funds will be fully used for handling waste and preserving culture.

IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, as the former Mayor of Denpasar as the restaurant owner visited by President Jokowi, was also happy, although he did not record the nominal expenditure of the president, he felt he had also received fortune.

"The important thing is that there are benefits, also hopefully there will be more crowds too, there was a betutu chicken (held), follow-up soup, kales vegetables, shells, fish, almost all menus, I don't see what to eat but it looks like he all ate it," he said.

Before meeting figures in Denpasar, President Jokowi first visited SMKN 3 Sukawati, Pasar Bulan, and the Batubulan Cultural Center, and after lunch continued his work agenda in Nusa Dua.