No instruction to bar Anies from pitch: Palace

February 19, 2018, 09.27 AM | Source: The Jakarta Post
No instruction to bar Anies from pitch: Palace

ILUSTRASI. Presiden Jokowi bersama Gubernur Anies Baswedan saat final Piala Presiden


DKI JAKARTA - JAKARTA. The Presidential Palace said that there had been no instruction given to bar Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan from joining President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during a post-game ceremony at the pitch of the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday night.

In a viral video that circulated over the weekend, Anies could be seen being prevented by one member of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) from joining Jokowi, who was about to give a trophy to players of the Jakarta soccer club Persija for winning the President's Cup tournament.

"There was no instruction whatsoever from the President to bar Anies," deputy for the Presidential Press, Media and Information Secretariat Bey Machmudi said in a statement.

Bey further said said that members of the Paspampres only allowed individuals on the list of the President's entourage to join him on the pitch.

Bey also said that President Jokowi and Anies were in good mood during the game with the President congratulating the Jakarta Governor when Persija won the game.

Responding to the incident, Anies said that he did not take it personally. "It did not matter where I was during the game. The most important thing is Persija won and that made me proud," Anies said.

Anies could be seen meeting with Persija players and congratulated after the game was over. Persija won after beating Bali United 3-0.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie

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