It has been proven that infrastructure development in Jokowi’s era was more massive than SBY’s

Jakarta – Former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, former Governor of DKI Jakarta who is also the Presidential Candidate of the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP) Anies Baswedan and General Chair of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) criticized infrastructure development in the era of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Jusuf Kalla, Anies and AHY’s criticism of President Jokowi were conveyed together at the highlight of the 21st Anniversary celebration of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Sunday (21/5), at Istora Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Jusuf Kalla, said President Jokowi was more busy building toll roads and paid less attention to non-toll roads. Even though he has succeeded in building 2,600 KM of toll roads in the 9 years of his reign, the construction of ordinary roads has not received much attention.

“On the other hand, we are proud to have made toll roads that long (2,600 KM), but there are still around 170,000 KM of damaged roads. This means that only people who can afford it can use it because they pay. But the roads that are passed by the common people are damaged and cannot be repaired,” said Jusuf Kalla while delivering his speech.

Anies also conveyed the same thing that during the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), a lot of free road construction was being carried out. If counted, more than those built during the administration of President Joko Widodo.

“The unpaid roads being built are 144,000 km long or 7.5 times as long. In the SBY era, the construction of national roads reached 11,800 km. Meanwhile in the Jokowi era it was only 590 km. The amount was 20 times what was done by SBY,” said Anies.

While in the same place, AHY also revealed that Jokowi was only concerned with infrastructure development, while human resource development was secondary. Even so, it can have a positive impact on other developments. Because the progress of human resources is considered to be the key as a developed country.

“Infrastructure development is indeed important and needed, but human development should not be prioritized. If we can increase the development of quality human resources, then the country will also progress,” he said.

Previously, the Head of Toll Road Regulatory Affairs (BPJT) of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Danang Parikesit said that during the 2004-2014 SBY administration, the total road length increased by 144,825 KM (38.83 percent). Meanwhile, President Jokowi’s administration until May 2023 has added 28,363 KM of national roads.

For toll roads during the era of President SBY, toll roads built by the government and/or the private sector in Indonesia have reached 927.53 km. Of this total, 38 km long was built by the government and 888 km was built by the private sector. Meanwhile, since taking office as President in 2014, Jokowi has built an average of 264 KM of toll roads each year.

“Since 2014, during the 7 years of President Joko Widodo’s leadership, 1,848.1 km have been built, or an average of 264.01 km per year. As of March 2023 there are 70 operating toll roads managed by 49 toll road business entities (BUJT) Jokowi still has the task of completing an additional 572.5 KM of new toll roads until 2024. So President Jokowi is ahead of President SBY. The SBY government only built 927.53 KM of toll roads while Jokowi during his 7 years in office managed to build 1,848.1 KM, Danang concluded. [*]