VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Presidential Advisory Council chairman Wiranto (middle) after meeting with the Nusantara Student Executive Board in Jakarta on Friday (April 8, 2022). (ANTARA/Indra Arief/KT) - 

The Presidential Advisory Council welcomed representatives of the Nusantara Student Executive Board (BEM) and listened to their opinions on several current issues, such as basic needs price hike and the 2024 election postponement rejection.

"Today, with the President's permission, we held a meeting with BEM Nusantara to communicate the things that the country is currently facing," Presidential Advisory Council chairman Wiranto said after the meeting with BEM Nusantara here on Friday.

During Friday's meeting, BEM Nusantara raised the problem of the surge in prices of cooking oil and other basic needs ahead of Eid Al-Fitr and the alleged existence of cartels, he added.

The student board also discussed the imposition of taxes, national energy security issues, and the rejection of a proposal to extend the Presidential term to three terms, which would have resulted in the postponement of the 2024 general election, he pointed out.

Wiranto briefly explained to BEM Nusantara that extending the Presidential term to three periods would be rationally impossible.

"Because it concerns the 1945 Constitution; amending the 1945 Constitution is very hard. (One of the) requirements (to amend the Constitution) is the will of the Indonesian people, which is presented in the majority in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI)," he stressed.

According to Wiranto, of the nine political factions in the House of Representatives, six rejected the extension of the Presidential term. The Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) also rejected the discourse.

There should be effective public communication between the government, the students, and the community to avoid misunderstandings, he said.

"Hopefully, our today's communication can yield an understanding between leaders and communities. At least we are no longer stuck in a discourse that is actually impossible to implement," he added//ANT