JK: If Just Asking Is Not Possible, How To Criticize

Jusuf Kalla (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK) asked the parties not to misinterpret their questions regarding how to criticize the government without being summoned by the police. He made this statement when he was a speaker at the Prosperous Justice Party Democracy Forum on February 12, 2021.

According to JK, this is a question in terms of representing community anxiety and aiming for the good of the government itself. For this reason, JK hopes that the parties will not be too reactive in responding to his question.

Because according to him, in a democratic government, criticism is very important as part of the correction of the running of the government.

"If the government wants to run in a democratic manner, it is important to have checks and balancing and what I am saying is a question and it is natural, how can we criticize without being called by the police? that's purely a question and many respond to it differently, especially these buzzers right? This is the impression that asking questions is not permissible, let alone criticizing. Even though my question is very simple, namely how to criticize "JK at his private residence, Jl. Brawijaya No.6, South Jakarta Kebayoran baru, Monday, February 15, 2021.

Regarding the response from the Government regarding this question, JK really appreciated the explanation from the government through the spokesman for President Fadjroel Rachman who had provided an explanation of how to criticize. According to him, that should be done in response to his question, not with various kinds of interpretations.

"I am grateful that the government has answered through the Presidential Spokesman, brother Fadjroel, and that is important so that the community, especially activists, already know how to criticize properly, this is important because I mean asking questions like that and it really comes out of my heart, is to see how. so that the government is good and society is also good, do not misinterpret and give various interpretations, "said JK.

JK also asked President Jokowi's loyal supporters to comply with the President's wishes to ask the public to criticize him. Even though Jokowi did not explain how to criticize himself but was not summoned by the authorities, for this reason JK asked the question so that the public could get an explanation.

"Now the president himself has opened the door for criticism and that is great. But the method must be explained so that it is good for the government and good for society. So am I wrong to ask a question? Well, from there, you can see the character of those who question the question. It means that they are anti-criticism and contradicting Jokowi, the buzzer buzzers, "said JK.