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Key ministers talk about trust, loyalty under President Jokowi
The government has set aside a total of Rp 1.73 quadrillion (US$122.96 billion) between 2015 and 2019 to finance its infrastructure projects, with the infrastructure budget increased year over year during Jokowi’s first term.
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Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono stands behind President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during a government event in Jakarta. Basuki, who was reappointed in the ministerial post for Jokowi’s second term, said he enjoyed the pressure to achieve the infrastructure development target.
(Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
With infrastructure development as one of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s key programs, one could be forgiven for thinking that key ministers tasked with executing the President’s vision are feeling the stress.
However, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono were having none of it, with both saying they were reveling in Jokowi’s challenge to vastly improve Indonesia’s infrastructure to better connect regions of the sprawling archipelago.
In a recent discussion in Jakarta, Basuki said he enjoyed working with Jokowi to implement the latter’s call for improved infrastructure. “It is enjoyable [working with Jokowi], because he fully trusts us. In work, I believe in two [principles]: trust and loyalty. He trusts me, I am loyal [to Jokowi],” said Basuki.
As for Budi, he was particularly motivated by Jokowi’s demanding target, saying this gave him additional drive to rise to the challenge.
“The work is challenging, [but] because it is challenging, we have to put up an all-out effort,” said Budi, pointing to his recent task to oversee the airport expansion and construction projects for five priority tourism destinations.
The government has set aside a total of Rp 1.73 quadrillion (US$122.96 billion) between 2015 and 2019 to finance its infrastructure projects, with the infrastructure budget increased year over year during Jokowi’s first term.
In the 2019 state budget, the Public Works and Housing Ministry took up the largest chunk of the infrastructure budget with Rp 108.2 trillion out of a total Rp 415 trillion budgeted for infrastructure, while the Transportation Ministry got Rp 38.1 trillion.
