Coordinating Minister Luhut Panjaitan Criticizes Bappenas for Promising Heaven

CNN Indonesia

Wednesday, 10 May 2023 07:01 WIB

Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs) Luhut Pandjaitan report to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) because it is considered to offer the promise of heaven.

According to him, Bappenas indulges in promises of heaven with language ranging from prosperity to justice. Including in relation to the downstream program.

In fact, Luhut emphasized that there are other things that are more important than these sweet words.

“I also corrected the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to the President (Jokowi). Sir, he promised heaven, justice, prosperity, that’s the language. Tapi how we do it? How do we execute? That’s what I think is more important,” he said at The Westin Jakarta, Tuesday (9/5).

Luhut did not specify which statements and promises of paradise had been conveyed by Bappenas to the government. He only emphasized that the important thing for Indonesia in the future is to think about how to continue the downstreaming of raw materials. According to him, this will generate big added value for RI.

Therefore, Luhut asked whoever was president after Joko Widodo to continue the downstream program. He emphasized that downstreaming still needs a long process, even by 2040 it may not be completely finished.

“The next president you finish this thing (downstream). Don’t just promise heaven. To create million job opportunity, direct indirect. This (downstream) won’t be completed until 2040, so whoever the president will be, just do this, don’t talk too much,” said Luhut.

“That’s what we have to answer, how do we execute this downstream, combining from nickel, bauxite, what copper. How to become a product that has added value for the welfare of our republic,” he concluded.

(skt/agt)