Jokowi To Central Java Related To Campaign Of One Of The Paslon, Palace: President's Kunker Has No Elections

Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana when giving a statement at the Ministry of State Secretariat Building, Jakarta, Monday (22/1/2024). (ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati)

JAKARTA - Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana emphasized that the working visit (kunker) of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Central Java on January 22-23, 2024 was not related to the 2024 General Election.

Ari denied that Jokowi's working visit was related to one of the pairs (paslon) of presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) to Central Java Province to conduct a campaign.

"Kompanye terjadi di seluruh tempat di Indonesia kan, jadi kita tahu bahwa kunjungan kerja presiden itu sesuatu yang tidak ada hubungan dengan pemilu," kata Ari Dwipayana di Gedung Kementerian Sekretariat Negara, Jakarta, Senin.

Ari added that President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana visited to review the protection and social assistance that had been carried out since the first period.

In his activities, Jokowi ensured that educational assistance through the Smart Indonesia Card, health services through the Healthy Indonesia Card and BPJS, to the Family Hope Program went well.

Jokowi has launched this social policy since his first term as president to strengthen human resources (HR) in terms of health and education services.

When asked about the reason why Central Java was chosen as the location for the president's working visit, Ari assessed that the province was one of the densely populated areas.

"These are dense areas. The population of Indonesia is Javanese, yes, Central Java, East Java, West Java, that's it; and definitely social services and social protection are related to humans, the population. So, we have to see many areas, whether health services, education services, including Smart Indonesia Cards, and KIS, BPJS has been served well," he said.

Meanwhile, based on information, the candidate for vice president number two Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also Jokowi's eldest son, is scheduled to campaign for the 2024 presidential election in Central Java, Monday, January 22.

Gibran will meet the kiai at the Al Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Batang Regency and attend national speeches in Kendal Regency.

Then, presidential candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo is scheduled to attend dinner with the DPC, TPC Ganjar-Mahfud, coalition party candidates, as well as volunteers at the house of the chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Gunung Kidul DPC, Yogyakarya.

Furthermore, Ganjar will be friendly with residents and stay in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region.