Elon Musk Invites Indonesians To Be Volunteers To Mars

President Jokowi with Elon Musk/PHOTO via Instagram Kemensetneg.ri

JAKARTA - Special Staff to the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Faldo Maldini assessed that the invitation to volunteer to Planet Mars for Indonesian citizens conveyed by Tesla CEO and founder of Space Exploration Technologies Corp, Elon Musk was aimed at developing knowledge and technology.

This was conveyed in response to the commotion that arose after the invitation. Elon Musk made this statement when President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited the United States.

"We see this as an invitation to get involved in the development of knowledge and technology," Faldo told VOI, Wednesday, May 25.

Indonesia, continued Faldo, of course wants to take part in history by sending its citizens to volunteer to go from Planet Earth to Planet Mars.

"However, the focus of the government is to ensure that the rights of citizens are protected. The participation of Indonesian citizens must be in accordance with constitutional orders and the corridors of applicable laws," he stressed.

Even so, the idea of going and living on Mars is considered by Faldo still far away. Indonesia, he said, now prefers to focus on solving problems in the country.

Moreover, regarding the large population, the government has from the beginning restrained the rate of population growth with the Family Planning (KB) program. As a result, there was a decline from 2.3 percent in the 1980s to 1.25 percent in 2010-2020.

"So, population control for the next few decades is still much more effective through family planning, than thinking about living on Mars," he said.

"Elon Musk's idea is still far away, we now have to focus on something in sight," Faldo added.

In the presence of President Jokowi, Elon Musk invited the Indonesian people to volunteer to be sent to Mars from Earth.

Initially, Elon said he was optimistic about the state of Indonesia, especially in the future. Moreover, this country is considered to have a lot of potential.

"The future in Indonesia is very bright," said Elon beside President Jokowi as quoted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday, May 24.

"Indonesia has tremendous potential in many ways. Indonesia has a large population and continues to grow," he added.

This condition, continued Elon, is certainly very good. Moreover, in the future, this large population is needed, including to be sent to Mars.

"This is very good. Because we need a lot of people, including (on, red) Mars," he said with a smile.

"Mars is not inhabited by people (currently, ed). So we need people. Volunteers. These are basically volunteers," added Elon with a smile which was also greeted by a smile by President Jokowi.