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President Joko Widodo and his Onwards Indonesia cabinet try rowing a dragon boat in Ladongi dam, East Kolaka district, Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday (December 28, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden/Laily Rachev) - 

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and several members of his Onwards Indonesia cabinet tried their hand at rowing a dragon boat at Ladongi dam, Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday.

Public Works and Public Housing Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, and Cabinet Secretary, Pramono Anung, were among those who joined the President on the dragon boat.

Meanwhile, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia played the drums for the rowers to keep in sync with as well as to encourage them.

As seen in a video uploaded on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, the dragon boat had 15 rowers, including the President and ministers, a drummer, and a boatman who stood at the back.

Although the rowers did not push and pull their oars in unison, the dragon boat sped and circled the dam for about 15 minutes.

President Jokowi inaugurated Ladongi dam on Tuesday. The dam has a capacity of 45.9 million cubic meters and spans 222 hectares.

It will provide irrigation water for rice fields in a number of surrounding districts, such as East Kolaka, Konawe, South Konawe, and Kolaka, Jokowi noted at the inauguration.

He said he expected the dam to provide water for agricultural needs to reinforce self-reliance, sovereignty, and food security.

"Without water, it is impossible for us to achieve what is considered as good food security, good food sovereignty, and good food independence," he remarked.

Ladongi dam also has the potential to become a tourist destination, especially water tourism, he said.

As per data from the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Ladongi dam could supply 120 liters of water per second, reduce flooding by 176.6 cubic meters per second, and has 1.3 megawatts worth of electricity potential, he noted.

The dam was built in 2016-2021 at a cost of Rp1.2 trillion.

The President's entourage on Tuesday comprised of Hadimuljono, Lahadalia, Anung, Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, Ali Mazi, and acting head of East Kolaka District, Sulwan Aboenawas//ANT