PKB Values That Jokowi's Whispers To Ganjar Doesn't Always Mean Support

President Joko Widodo (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Awakening Party (PKB) considers President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) whispers to Ganjar Pranowo's presidential candidate at the PDIP National Working Meeting not always interpreted as support for the presidential election.

According to PKB DPP chairman Daniel Johan, the whispers were more about discussions in which Jokowi's government program was relevant to the PDIP National Working Meeting theme entitled Food Sovereignty for the Welfare of the Indonesian People.

"I don't think what the president is doing should always be associated with support. This is more because of the theme of food sovereignty," said Daniel Johan to reporters, Saturday, September 30.

From Jokowi's message, the Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR said that whoever will become president of Indonesia is important to prioritize and realize food sovereignty.

Because, said Daniel, agriculture and fisheries are the strength of Indonesia. He is also waiting for the presidential candidate who is able to fulfill Jokowi's wish.

"The future of Indonesia lies in how we advance agriculture and fisheries. So we hope that the next president can show firm partiality by increasing the APBN budget for agriculture and fisheries at least 3 percent of the total APBN," said Daniel.

"We will see who the existing presidential candidates are able to make this real thing happen," he added. Previously, President Jokowi admitted that he had whispered to Ganjar asking the former governor of Central Java to immediately step on the gas to deal with food problems if he was elected as the 8th president of the Republic of Indonesia later.

"Earlier I whispered to him. 'Sir, after being inaugurated, the next day immediately entered food sovereignty', we don't have to take long, the plan is prepared now, once inaugurated tomorrow, we will immediately enter the work of food sovereignty so that food self-sufficiency, food security, food sovereignty, we really have it," Jokowi said in his remarks at the PDIP National Working Meeting IV at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Friday, September 29.

Jokowi admitted that he was horrified by all countries that put the brakes on exporting their wheat, rice and sugar. Therefore, he asked the nation's future leaders to have a vision and mission to solve this food problem.

"In the next five years, in the next 10 years, we must have a tactical vision, not a mission vision that is too good in the clouds, but a tactical vision, a detailed work plan, we must have and I am sure that Pak Ganjar is able to solve this," said Jokowi.