Deputy House Speaker Wants Jokowi to Get New Presidential Car
Jakarta. The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Fahri Hamzah said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo should acquire a new presidential car despite his protestations, citing safety and security reasons.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has repeatedly refused his aides' recommendation to acquire new cars after his current RI-1 car suffered frequent malfunctions.
"The government must not allow the president to ride on old [presidential] cars," Fahri said on Wednesday (23/03).
"The president’s security and safety are paramount. If a member of the House dies [in a car accident], he can be easily replaced. But if it's the president [who dies], we simply can't have that," the lawmaker added.
Fahri also said there is no connection between President Jokowi's refusal to get a new presidential car with the fact that one of the eight cars in the presidential car fleet is still being "borrowed" by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The State Secretariat, according to Fahri, should prepare enough cars to be used by the president or former presidents.
Money should not be an issue, Fahri said. "There is Rp 2,085 trillion [$156.5 billion] in the state budget, a presidential car will only cost a billion or two. Nothing to fuss about."
The current fleet of RI-1 cars are armor plated to military standard, and able to withstand hand grenades and other explosive devices.
Their safety features also include run-flat tires, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.
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