Jokowi's Call To Hate Foreign Products Is Considered A Danger To The Stunting Control Program, How Come?

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has called for hating foreign products and loving domestic products. The use of the word "hate" has become a hot topic of discussion, even the importing countries have questioned it.

According to a public policy observer from the University of Indonesia, Agus Pambagio, Jokowi's called to hate foreign products could hinder Indonesia's stunting reduction program.

Stunting is a condition when the child is shorter than children their age. This occurs due to lack of nutritional intake in the early growth period.

"The president needs to consult with experts in communication and international relations before making a statement. The president's request is reasonable. But we need to remember, the president has a stunting program", Agus said in a YouTube broadcast medcom id, Sunday, March 7.

Talking about efforts to reduce stunting rates, it is necessary to improve the nutrition of children under five. The problem is, said Agus, that 80 percent of the milk supply in Indonesia is imported.

"Domestic production of cows in the country can only be 20 percent and has been completely absorbed by the dairy business. Now, if we talk about hate (foreign products), in my opinion, it is a bit dangerous", he said.

In this regard, Agus considers President Joko Widodo's words calling for hating foreign products to endanger the conditions of international relations.

Agus understood the palace's explanation that the intention of Jokowi's appeal was to motivate domestic business actors such as MSMEs to compete in the market. However, Indonesia is in need of foreign products, especially during this pandemic such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

"He said the president's intentions were good, but in international relations communication it could be dangerous. On the one hand we are asking for various support facilities because of the pandemic, but on the other hand we hate products. We must be careful", he said.

Previously, President Jokowi announced that the public would start hating foreign products and turn to love domestic products. This aims to increase sales from local producers in the future.

The number one person in the country emphasized that the love for local products will place micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in a strategic place.

Seeing the hectic public response, Jokowi explained that the invitation was a natural action so that Indonesia would not only depend on imported products. So that the Indonesian people can prioritize domestically made products.

"Yesterday I told you to love Indonesian products, to be proud of Indonesian products and maybe we don't like foreign products. We can't dislike foreign products, maybe we don't like foreign products. I'm talking about hating foreign products, why so hectic. We may not like foreign products", said Jokowi.