TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been making repeated calls without being detected by reporters these days. He always manages to escape reporters every week—sometimes by leaving through the City Hall’s side exit, or driving his Toyota Innova car without being escorted by his aides.
There were also times when his aides would tell journalists following the governor’s entourage to turn around, or, his Innova car, with license plate B 1124 BH, would just discreetly detach from its escorting vehicles.
When asked about where the governor was headed, his adjutants told journalists Jokowi had some private matters to attend to. However, reporters are becoming suspicious of the governor’s disappearance, which has been more frequent these days.
“Well…what can you do if the people I have to meet don't want to see the media?” he said at the City Hall on Tuesday, September 22, 2013. “I don’t mind your following me,” he said, smiling.
When asked about who the people were, the governor was non-committal. “There were A, B, so many of them,” he said while laughing.
Jokowi was also evasive when asked whether the calls were related to his possible candidacy in the presidential race next year. “Yes, we talked about 2014,” he said. “About the budget, and whether we need to raise the educational budget. This is about the regional budget,” he said. The governor explained the talks were aimed at facilitating his duties in the capital.
ANGGRITA DESYANI