APDESI Affirms There Is No Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan Behind The Steps To Support Jokowi For 3 Periods

Apdesi national gathering at Istora Senayan/Youtube Presidential Secretariat

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Village Governments (APDESI) denied any interference from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, regarding their support for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to serve three terms.

APDESI chairman, Surtawijaya, emphasized that no one directed the village head to voice support for Jokowi to extend his term of office for one term. He stated that a village head cannot be forced to say something.

"Nothing. Where can the village head be directed? We don't want a business like that but it's pure (Pure). Pure like this", Surtawijaya told reporters in Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday, March 30.

He stated that this support also had nothing to do with Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. In fact, he admitted, one of the parties that prevented Apdesi from making a declaration of support for President Jokowi for three terms today was Luhut.

"There is no (Luhut's direction, ed). He forbids it instead. It's forbidden to meet him, you don't tell stories like that. I don't dare to speak.

Furthermore, Surtawijaya said that the support given by APDESI for Jokowi to serve three terms was due to several reasons. One of them, Jokowi is considered to care about the village and is considered to be able to bring more goodness.

"This is not a story, factual information. Whoever the leader is, it's not easy to declare what we want (later, red) he (Jokowi, ed) will grant it. Now we have reciprocity", he said.

"He cares about us, that's our hope who knows in the future everything will be better. The friends (yesterday, ed) agreed on three terms. Continue", added Surtawijaya.

As previously reported, APDESI expressed its support for President Jokowi to return to the office for the third time in 2024. This support was conveyed when Jokowi attended the opening of the Apdesi national gathering at Istora Senayan, Jakarta.

At that time, Jokowi was present with a number of his ministers. Including Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan who had a chance to talk with regional heads. Furthermore, APDESI will make a declaration of their support. The plan, this will be done after Eid this year.