Vice President Ma'ruf: Government Doesn't Build Toll Roads Only For Rich People

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin reviewed the revitalization of Toboali Market in South Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung, Tuesday (10/9/2024). (ANTARA/Aprionist)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized that the government's commitment to building infrastructure does not only focus on toll roads and shopping centers or malls that are more in favor of the rich. This was conveyed by Ma'ruf to affirm the government's commitment to building and revitalizing the people's market, as well as implementing the Regional Road Presidential Instruction (Inpres) project to repair regional roads. "This is the government's commitment to develop not only for the rich, but also for the poor, and the common people. So don't think that the government only (building) toll roads, mall markets, but actually the government's attention, (development) people's markets and environmental roads," said Ma'ruf when giving a speech at the inauguration of Toboali Market Revitalization in South Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung, Antara, Tuesday, September 10. According to him, the regional road inpres project is a tangible form of the government's commitment to increasing connectivity between regions and facilitating the flow of goods and services. Through Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2023, the government allocated IDR 14.6 trillion in 2023 and IDR 15 trillion in 2024 for regional road repairs. With this Regional Road Inpres, it is hoped that economic centers will be more connected, logistics costs and travel time can be reduced, so as to support equitable community welfare. In his remarks, the Vice President also inaugurated the newly renovated Toboali Market so that it became one of the grandest and most modern people's markets in Bangka Belitung Province. Based on the records of the Ministry of Public Works for Public Housing, Toboali Market was revitalized based on the direction of President Joko Widodo who gave the mandate in October 2022. The central government through the Ministry of PUPR has also carried out construction work on market renovations since November 2023 and will be completed on July 4, 2024. Before being renovated, the market, which has a land area of 2,445 meters, was only able to accommodate 48 merchant stalls. Now, the market, which is built with two floors, can accommodate 68 merchant stalls and 8 culinary kiosks as well as parking for cars and motorbikes. The vice president said that after the renovation, many traders lined up to be able to be registered in kiosks at Toboali Market. The vice president also advised the next government to be able to provide solutions. "Initially the old market was slum, damaged, the traders were only 48, now the traders are good and it has increased, to 68. He said there were still many who queued up. Later for the government to come to think about it," said the vice president.

Over the past six years, the Government has built and renovated 62 people's markets in 53 regencies/cities spread across 21 provinces. This shows the Government's extraordinary commitment to supporting regional economic progress.