Home Minister dubs Anies ‘governor of Indonesia’

ANIES BASWEDAN - JAKARTA. Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has referred to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan as “governor of Indonesia”, as Anies headed the capital city where people from across the country lived and strived for a better life.

Tjahjo said that Jakarta was a melting pot where people across the country came to live and work, whether as short-term or permanent residents.

“People have been warned not to bring along their relatives when returning to the [capital] after mudik,” Tjahjo said, referring to the Idul Fitri holiday exodus, on the sidelines of an Indonesian Provincial Government Association (APPSI) event on Monday in Central Jakarta.

“However, we can’t [regulate this], because every citizen has the right to pursue a better life and to live in Jakarta, as long as they can fulfill the requirements,” he said as quoted by antaranews.com.

Anies, meanwhile, said the minister’s statement took him by surprise. “I know that I have a heavy responsibility, but whether to see it as hard or easy depends on how we feel [about it],” he said.