Hopingy Jokowi Will Only Have Two Periods, Faisal Basri: If The Term Of Office Is Extended, The Results Of Good Performance Can Be Bad

Indef's senior economist, Faisal Basri. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Senior economist Faisal Basri reminded President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) not to be tempted to increase his term of office to three terms. The proposal is not without reason, Faisal said if forced, Jokowi could lose his legacy when he no longer served as head of state.

"Hopefully, Jokowi won't have three terms or an additional term of office. Because the more he adds his good tenure (the results of his work) can be bad and in the end, Jokowi leaves nothing, except for environmental damage and debt that has accumulated. Because We love Jokowi, it's enough until 2024," he said in a virtual discussion, Thursday, April 7.

Faisal said that Jokowi's legacy is low inflation. According to him, for the first time in history after Indonesia's independence during Jokowi's tenure, inflation could be suppressed very low.

"The legacy of Mr. Jokowi, I think that should not be forgotten is that for the first time in history after independence, Mr. Jokowi has rewarded the Indonesian people with low inflation. And the low inflation is consistent, this is an extraordinary achievement," he said.

Not only that, said Faisal, during the Jokowi government there were no more high price spikes during Ramadan. According to him, it is no longer relevant now that we are talking about Ramadan, prices are rising.

Furthermore, Faisal assessed that Jokowi is indeed obsessed with controlling inflation. Because of that, he said, Jokowi really controlled himself as reflected from year to year inflation in the month of Ramadan and Lebaran decreased.

"Because Pak Jokowi's phenomenal achievements are limited, perhaps the only one (controlling) inflation, do not let Jokowi lose his legacy at the end of his term, we can no longer call him a hero to secure this inflation," he explained.

However, Faisal regrets that it turns out that Jokowi's way of controlling inflation is with the stampede method, not improving supply and not improving logistics. Where Jokowi is very concerned but in ways, he wants quick results.

For example, the fuel subsidy seems to be going down even though it continues to rise. For Pertalite, the subsidy is IDR 4.000 to IDR 4.500 with 23 million kiloliters. Then diesel for IDR 7.800, Pertamax, although the price has been increased, there is still a subsidy of IDR 3.500 that has been bailed out by Pertamina.

"So, in the end, this subsidy has ballooned and can't be afforded (because) there is a war crisis, it can no longer be done and soon I think the government will give up because the subsidy is extraordinary," he said.

"So all this time we can say that inflation is pseudo-low. Step foot, that's the first thing," he said.