TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Wednesday, September 25, edition of the New York Times has published an article about Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, more often known as Jokowi. The article highlighted the Governor's effort to address various problems by jumping right on to the field, or as Indonesians called it, 'blusukan'.
The article described how Jokowi went down the street to hear people's opinion on certain issues, and how Jakartans would greet him by putting his hand on to their forehead, a gesture that displays respect.
"Most times, he is mobbed as he wanders through slums, traditional markets and other neighborhoods. Women, and men, try to touch him. Younger people grab his hands and lay them on their foreheads — a sign of respect," the reporter wrote.
In an interview with the New York Times, Jokowi stated that "the people call it 'street democracy', because [he] go out to them."
The New York Times also highlighted that Jokowi dropped in on local government and tax offices to let "the city's notoriously inefficient bureaucrats know he is watching". The paper added that most of the people witnessing the act were "shocked to see an Indonesian leader out of their office."
NEW YORK TIMES | NIEKE INDRIETTA