REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Al Azhar political observer, Ujang Komarudin advised Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) not to criticize the government. He considered the criticism delivered by JK was not elegant given its status as part of the government.

Ujang said that JK should be with President Joko Widodo to find a solution to the issues he criticized. He considered, JK was able to provide positive comments because he have had undoubted experience and credibility as a national figure.

Furthermore, Ujang said that Indonesia was proud to have a critical and solutive figure such as JK. So, he said, the criticism delivered by JK must be seen as part of the solution to the problems that occurred.

"Maybe Mr. JK has reminded the technocrats that in building infrastructure don't take too much profit," he said in Jakarta on Friday (Jan 25).

Previously, JK criticized the construction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Indonesia. JK assessed that the construction of the LRT was not efficient because it was built beside the toll road so that the barrier-free access could not be widened as there was a pole beside it. He said, the cost of construction was also more expensive because it was an elevated toll road.

JK then also criticized the construction of the LRT in Palembang, South Sumatra, which was used for the 2018 Asian Games event. According to him, the construction of the LRT in Palembang was inefficient.

JK said that transportation development in the regions should be studied carefullyas to provide more benefits from technical and economic aspects. If not, he continued, the construction of the LRT would only bring losses to the government.

Spokesman for the National Campaign Team (TKN) of presidential candidates number 01, Arya Sinulingga admitted that his party did not mind the criticism raised by JK. He said, JK only criticized one of the thousands of infrastructure projects built during Jokowi's administration.

"He just criticized around three (projects). It's small, it's natural," said Arya.

He judged the criticism arise as proof that Jokowi provided space for all parties, including within the government, to criticize. He said, Jokowi opened the spaces of criticism even from within the government itself.

"In the past, it was impossible. So Mr.JK's opinion was delivered openly," he said.

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