Meeting Samarinda Figures, Anies Tells The Experience Of Inequality

Indonesian Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan met religious and traditional leaders in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan, Thursday (11/1/2024). ANTARA/HO-Timnas AMIN

SAMARINDA - Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan told about the social inequality problem that occurred in front of religious leaders and traditional leaders of Samarinda City, East Kalimantan. The story is based on Anies' experience when he first visited East Kalimantan in 1994, which at that time he was the initiator in a youth program. "At that time there was no bridge to Tenggarong. In 1994 the participants from all over East Kalimantan who I was amazed at the extraordinary size. There I witnessed for the first time what inequality was," said Anies in a written statement received in Jakarta, Thursday, January 11. In the training he initiated, students compiled a game to explain the meaning of money circulation. It aims to educate the surrounding community who still use a barter system in buying and selling. "Some of the training participants are still working on a barter economy and are still asking what is the concept of money. However, the question is why this group can prosper. Why can this group be richer? Why can't we prosper?" he said. Anies had seen children playing on the banks of the Mahakam River with poor skin conditions. "I had time to stop by to see the children. At the same time these children showed unhealthy skin conditions. This shows that this is unhealthy," said Anies. He assessed that this unique experience is an illustration of inequality so that young people in his program can learn about how to manage the wealth of natural resources (SDA) that are well-abundant.

Previously, the Indonesian KPU had determined the participants of the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres), namely the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. serial number 3. The KPU has also determined the campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, then the voting schedule on February 14, 2024.