Jokowi does not run his social media accounts

JAKARTA. Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto says President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo does not control his social media accounts, so statements made on the accounts do not come directly from President himself.

He said the “Joko Widodo” Facebook account and @jokowi_do2 Twitter handle were managed by the President’s campaign teams that could soon become part of the Presidential Palace.

“I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with the accounts. I’m just saying the accounts are not directly controlled by [the President]. [The accounts] were created during the campaign, so they are not official accounts managed by the presidential team,” Andi said on Wednesday.

He said the public should not be confused with statements made on the accounts just because they were not directly made by the President.

The Facebook account usually comments on sensitive issues and responds to comments from former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s accounts.

The accounts of both figures often trade remarks on various issues, which usually start with criticism from Yudhoyono’s account or a claim from Jokowi’s account.

The latest remark from the Yudhoyono account said Jokowi was trying to remove those associated with the former president’s administration from public posts.

“I was stunned...[Indonesian Military and National Police] officers and other bureaucrats in the government, which are all civil servants, are being called ‘SBY’s men’. This is absurd,” said Yudhoyono’s Facebook account on Jan. 19.

The “Joko Widodo” account denied the allegation.