Indonesia president hails economic, infrastructure successes in final state of nation address
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Mr Widodo called attention to his success in building roads, bridges and ports across the world's largest archipelago.
PHOTO: AFP
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JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlighted his economic, infrastructure and development successes in his final state of nation address on Aug 16, delivered months before he steps down after a decade as head of South-east Asia’s biggest economy.
Mr Widodo, also popularly known as Jokowi, called attention to his success in building roads, bridges and ports across the world’s largest archipelago.
“We have been able to build a new foundation and civilisation... building from the peripheries, building from villages, and building from outermost areas,” he told the nation’s Parliament.
To date, his government has built 2,700km of new toll roads, 50 new ports and airports, and 1.1 million ha of irrigation canals, he said.
The outgoing President, a former successful furniture businessman from Java, also highlighted Indonesia’s economic record, pointing to a consistent growth rate of 5 per cent, despite global economic headwinds.
Mr Widodo also said lowering of extreme poverty in the country – home to more than 270 million people – from 6.1 per cent to under 1 per cent, the introduction of the national healthcare system, and the criminal code overhaul were notable successes.
The Indonesian President leaves office with a strong economic record, but is facing mounting criticism about other aspects of his legacy, including the weakening of the judiciary and anti-corruption body and attempts to nurture his own political dynasty.
Last October, the Constitutional Court, then headed by Mr Widodo’s brother-in-law, amended the age requirement of candidates
Mr Gibran, alongside president-elect Prabowo Subianto, will be inaugurated on Oct 20.
Mr Prabowo, a former commander once banned from entering the US on account of his alleged human rights record, won the February election
Closing his speech on Aug 16, Mr Widodo apologised to people in the world’s third-largest democracy for any shortcomings during his tenure.
“Ten years is not a long period to solve all problems in our nation,” he said. “It is very possible that I have committed a lot of mistakes.”
REUTERS
