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Jokowi talks to 88 rulers about cultural heritage
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Cultural diversity: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and First Lady Iriana ride in a horse-drawn carriage during a wedding procession in Medan, North Sumatra, on Nov.26, which ended the week-long traditional Mandailing ngunduh mantu ceremony for their daughter, Kahiyang Ayu boru Siregar, and Bobby Afif Nasution. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
M
ore than 80 tribal rulers and sultans from areas across the archipelago met President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Bogor Palace on Thursday.
“I will not say anything, I just want to listen to the honorable rulers, sultans, princes and princesses who are present today about problems that they face in their respective regions,” the President said.
Tribal leaders and heads of kingdoms attending the event praised Jokowi’s initiative to meet with them, saying it showed his commitment to preserving cultural heritage.
“We highly appreciate this move,” said Edward Syah Pernong, the sultan of Kepaksian Skala Brak in Lampung.
“From September to January, we have met Pak Jokowi four times. We met him in Cirebon [West Java], Medan [North Sumatra] and twice at this palace. The President not only respects us, he truly loves our culture and us.”
After listening to the leaders’ insights, Jokowi promised he would find solutions to the problems they faced, including allocating funds to revitalize damaged palaces.
“I want the palaces totally renovated. Maybe we can fix three or five palaces every year. I will estimate the budget first,” he said.
Jokowi said he would hold a limited meeting to discuss fund allocation and the issuance of the palaces’ land certificates. (ebf)
