EditorialIndonesia must heal wounds to deliver on Widodo reforms
- In the wake of deadly riots and anti-Chinese feeling after his re-election, the president has to unite the nation and lift economic growth
A nation as rich in resources as Indonesia has great potential for growth and development. President Joko Widodo has embarked on his second and final term in a stronger political position pledging to focus on completing ambitious infrastructure projects and boosting investment in education and social welfare.
But despite the possibilities, from the outset he faces challenges, as evidenced by the deadly riots that greeted the announcement of his victory by supporters of presidential rival Prabowo Subianto, who still refuses to concede defeat.
Apart from months of bargaining ahead to form a government, there is global economic uncertainty, opposition to Chinese investment and distain of the incumbent’s moderate stand towards Islam.
Widodo’s triumph in the April 17 poll is seemingly unassailable, final figures showing a 10 percentage-point or almost 17 million-vote advantage, a winning margin about double that of the 2014 election. Parties in his coalition are set to hold a majority in the lower house of parliament.
But Prabowo claims there has been rampant electoral fraud and that he is the winner and vowed to challenge the result in the constitutional court. With the interests of Indonesia in mind, he should graciously admit defeat so that the healing of divisions can promptly begin.