President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received several members of the General Election Commission (KPU) executive board at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

At the meeting that began at around 9:30 a.m. local time, KPU Chief Arief Budiman reported on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections held on April 17, 2019, to the president.

"In line with Law No. 7 of 2017, the KPU is obliged to report on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections (to the president). Today, we fulfilled the obligation as set forth in the law," Budiman remarked at the meeting.

During the meeting, Budiman also handed over a report on the implementation of general elections to the head of state.

In addition to the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections, the KPU and president also discussed simultaneous regional head elections to be organized next year.

Budiman unveiled a plan to discuss good governance of the KPU.

During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that Indonesia needs to take example of technology and innovation made by other countries, such as the one made by South Korea.

"There is no harm in us imitating or adapting the South Korean model called From Imitation to Innovation ," he said when delivering a speech at the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya, Sunday.

This strategy has already been carried out by South Korea until it was able to become one of the developed countries in Asia that can compete with other developed countries in the world.

In the 1950s South Korea was one of the poorest countries in Asia, along with Indonesia. However, it only took about 40 years for South Korea to become a developed country.

"It means that we are still left behind and we need a strategy to bump up Indonesia's status and competitiveness among other countries," he said.

Generally, a country can progress by intensifying the development of science, technology, and innovation. Therefore, Indonesia needs to implement the 'From Imitation to Innovation' strategy to fulfill its ambitions to progress.

However, he continued, after following the progress of science and technology in developed countries, Indonesia must continue to develop it further, as well as learn and improve along the way, so that it does not stop at a certain stage.

"We must not be imitators or imitate continuously but we must turn into innovators," he said.

In addition, the rapid development of technology also causes changes in various aspects, including the industry that is developing now and in the future, which is the  fourth industrial revolution. 

Technologies that will develop in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 include artificial intelligent, the Internet of things, augmented or wearable reality, advanced Robotic, and 3D printing.

The IR 4.0 enables the development of new digital-based economies, at the same time generating disruptive changes or innovations. (ANTARA)