Governor refuses to apologize for comments

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Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo has refused to apologize to Magelang people following his recent statement criticizing jathilan or jaran kepang (bamboo horse dance).

A number of traditional dancers and members of the Community of Merapi Children have demanded Bibit to apologize for calling the jaran kepang the world’s worst art form.

The governor made the comment during the opening of the 14th Merapi and Borobudur Senior Amateur Golf Tournament in Magelang, Central Java on Sunday.

“I don’t want to apologize. I was correct. The artists’ performance of the jaran kepang at the event was really bad. Many other guests thought so,” said Bibit on Thursday.

“You could not say that the performance was good because the gamelan was bound together with plastic ropes,” he continued.