President Meets With Newsmen On National Press Day

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo met with newsmen here on Monday in connection with the National Press Day on February 9.

"This forum is very important for me as I get to hear the views and ideas of the national press," he said at the meeting.

He noted the meeting was also important to deepen the relations between the press and the government with regard to disseminating public information.

According to the president, criticisms from the media served as a supervision of the government's tasks to improve the welfare of the people.

"Strong criticisms are good for control (and) I believe that with them, priority programs carried out by the government and expected by the people can be done well," he added.

President Joko Widodo said the Indonesian people must feel grateful to be living in the era of press freedom, which promotes debate.

"Debate is part of a maturing democracy. Sometimes it can be tiring, but we must pass through it," he stressed.

On the occasion, President Joko Widodo received a white jacket with "Media Darling" written on it from the Indonesian Journalists' Association as a symbol of the media's adoration of him.

The event was also attended by Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Culture, Elementary and Secondary Education Anis Baswedan, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Zulkifli Hasan, and Chairman of the Regional Representatives Council Irman Gusman. (WDY)