Present At The Inauguration, Jokowi Affirms The Arrangement Of Bali's Besakih Temple To Anticipate Misappropriation

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized that the arrangement of the sacred area of Pura Agung Besakih in Karangasem Regency, Bali, is in order to avoid the confusion and inconvenience that may arise in the future.

The President admitted that he knew that the Besakih Temple area had always been busy with visitors, especially before major ceremonies that made Hindus from various directions flock to pray.

"The arrival of more and more people and visitors without being balanced with arrangement, without any anticipation in the future, will cause chaos and inconvenience," said Jokowi at the inauguration of the Besakih Temple area broadcast on the official YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 13.

Therefore, the President said that in 2021 he had ordered the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono to arrange the Besakih Temple area together with the Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster.

"It is carried out in two areas, namely the Bencingah and Manik Mas areas by building various supporting infrastructures so that people are more comfortable when praying and the Agung Besakih Temple is maintained," said Jokowi.

Governor Wayan Koster had revealed that the project had cost at least Rp. 911 billion, namely Rp. 428 billion from the budget of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing in the APBN and Rp.483 billion from the Bali Provincial Budget.

A total of Rp170 billion from the total budget, he said, was spent on land acquisition in the context of structuring needs.

A number of these arrangements include restoration and development of holy places, parking lots that can accommodate up to 250 buses, as well as a parking building with a capacity of 1,541 units of four-wheeled vehicles, and 1,268 units of two-wheeled vehicles.

In addition, there are also facilities to accommodate micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the form of 272 kiosks and 198 stalls, 274 free toilet booths, free pick-up electric vehicles, as well as a number of supporting facilities such as Wantilan halls, audio visual buildings, and creative buildings.

Wayan Koster also said that the arrangement of the Besakih Temple area began with laying the first stone by the fifth president of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri on August 18, 2021.

"This development can be realized thanks to the support of the President, providing great benefits for the Balinese people and will become the legacy and memories of the future," he said.

Also accompanying the President in attending the inauguration were First Lady Iriana Jokowi, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.