Jokowi's Ministers Compactly Respond to Anies' Spicy Criticism

Jokowi's Ministers Compactly Respond to Anies' Spicy Criticism

Presidential candidate (candidate) Anies Baswedan recently criticized the government for subsidizing electric vehicles. According to him, this electric car subsidy is not the right solution to deal with air pollution, it actually adds to congestion. 

Quoted from detikNews, Anies Baswedan assessed that subsidizing electric cars is not a solution to address air pollution problems. 

"As for air pollution, the solution does not lie in subsidies for electric cars. Electric car owners are those who do not need subsidies," said Anies at the Indonesian Mandate Declaration (ANIES) event at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Sunday (7/5). . 

"We are facing environmental challenges. The government must ensure that the resources provided by the government for its people are the right resources," he continued. 

Furthermore, according to him, electric vehicles do not replace the cars that people already have. The more people who have cars, the more traffic jams will occur. 

"Our experience in Jakarta is that electric-based private vehicles will not replace the cars in their garage. Instead, they will increase the number of cars on the streets, increasing traffic jams," said Anies. 

Regarding his criticism, a number of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) ministers gave their responses. Here are the responses:

1. Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita

According to the Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, subsidies for electric cars or electric vehicles (EV) should not only be seen from one side. 

"Yes, we are basically EV to reduce emissions, as a global community we have a commitment to zero emissions by 2060. So this is an inseparable part of our efforts to do that," he told reporters at the Ministry of Industry Office, South Jakarta, Tuesday (9 /5/2023). 

Furthermore, he said that the existence of the electric car industry could open up many new jobs. In addition, it can take advantage of downstream nickel which is currently being carried out by the government. 

"And also we must not forget that the development of the EV industry in Indonesia will also create a high enough workforce in Indonesia and can take advantage of the downstream program, namely nickel which is currently being promoted by the government," he explained. 

2. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan responded to criticism about electric car subsidies. Luhut asked those who criticized him to come directly to him. 

"Who made the comment, told him to come to me directly, let me explain that what he said was not true," he said when met at The Westin Jakarta, Tuesday (9/5/2023). 

However, Luhut admitted that he did not know which party was making the criticism. He also reminded all parties not to go against the grain. 

"So let's not go against the flow of the world either. Whoever commented, I don't know about that," he said. 

Luhut explained that subsidizing electric cars had been carried out through a comprehensive study. Today almost all of the world is doing the same thing. 

"Actually, like this, regarding this electric car, there has been a comprehensive study. So I think the whole world, not just me," he said. 

3. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto

Regarding the criticism given by Anies Baswedan, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto assessed that currently almost all countries provide subsidies for electric cars. 

"Almost all countries provide (subsidies) for electric cars," he said when met at the Martha Christina Tiahahu Literacy Park, South Jakarta, Monday (8/5/2023) yesterday. 

Menteri-menteri Jokowi Kompak Balas Kritikan Pedas Anies

Calon presiden (capres) Anies Baswedan baru-baru ini melontarkan kritikan terhadap pemerintah soal subsidi kendaraan listrik. Menurutnya, subsidi mobil listrik ini bukan solusi yang tepat untuk menangani polusi udara, justru menambah kemacetan.

Dikutip dari detikNews, Anies Baswedan menilai, pemberian subsidi mobil listrik bukanlah solusi untuk mengatasi permasalahan polusi udara.

"Soal polusi udara, solusinya bukanlah terletak di dalam subsidi untuk mobil listrik. Pemilik-pemilik mobil listrik adalah mereka yang tidak membutuhkan subsidi," ungkap Anies dalam acara deklarasi Amanat Indonesia (ANIES) di Tennis Indoor Senayan, Minggu (7/5) lalu.

"Kita menghadapi tantangan lingkungan hidup. Pemerintah harus memastikan sumber daya yang diberikan pemerintah untuk rakyatnya adalah sumber daya yang tepat," sambungnya.

Lebih lanjut, menurutnya kendaraan listrik tidaklah mengganti mobil yang sudah dimiliki orang-orang. Semakin banyak orang memiliki mobil justru akan semakin membuat jalanan macet.

"Pengalaman kami di Jakarta, kendaraan pribadi berbasis listrik, dia tidak akan menggantikan mobil yang ada di garasinya. Dia justru akan menambah jumlah mobil di jalanan, menambah kemacetan di jalanan," papar Anies.

Mengenai kritikannya itu, sejumlah menteri-menteri Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) memberikan tanggapannya. Berikut ini tanggapannya:

1. Menteri Perindustrian Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita

Menurut Menteri Perindustrian Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, subsidi mobil listrik atau electric vehicle (EV) ini jangan hanya dilihat dari satu sisi saja.

"Ya kita EV ini kan pada dasarnya untuk mengurangi emisi, sebagai komunitas global kita punya komitmen zero emisi pada 2060. Nah ini bagian yang tidak terlepaskan dari upaya kita untuk itu," tuturnya kepada wartawan di Kantor Kementerian Perindustrian, Jakarta Selatan, Selasa (9/5/2023).

Lebih lanjut, ia mengatakan dengan adanya industri mobil listrik dapat membuka banyak lapangan pekerjaan baru. Ditambah lagi dapat memanfaatkan hilirisasi nikel yang saat ini tengah dilakukan oleh pemerintah.

"Dan juga kita tidak boleh lupa bahwa pengembangan industri EV di Indonesia juga akan menciptakan tenaga kerja yang cukup tinggi di Indonesia dan bisa memanfaatkan program hilirisasi yaitu nikel yang sekarang sedang digalakkan oleh pemerintah," paparnya.

2. Menteri Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan

Menteri Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan menanggapi kritikan soal subsidi mobil listrik. Luhut meminta pihak yang mengkritik agar datang langsung menghadap dirinya.

"Siapa yang berkomentar suruh dia datangi saya langsung, biar saya jelasin bahwa tidak benar omongannya," katanya saat ditemui di The Westin Jakarta, Selasa (9/5/2023).

Tetapi Luhut mengaku tidak tahu siapa pihak yang melontarkan kritik. Ia pun mengingatkan semua pihak agar tidak melawan arus.

"Jadi jangan kita melawan arus dunia juga. Siapa yang berkomentar saya tidak tahu mengenai itu," ujarnya.

Luhut menjelaskan, pemberian subsidi mobil listrik sudah dilakukan melalui studi yang komprehensif. Saat ini hampir semua dunia melakukan hal yang sama.

"Sebenarnya gini ya, mengenai mobil listrik ini, sudah ada studi yang komprehensif. Jadi saya kira seluruh dunia, bukan hanya saya," tegasnya.

3. Menteri Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto

Terkait kritik yang diberikan Anies Baswedan, Menteri Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Airlangga Hartarto menilai, saat ini hampir semua negara memberikan subsidi mobil listrik.

"(Subsidi) mobil listrik hampir semua negara memberikan," katanya saat ditemui di Taman Literasi Martha Christina Tiahahu, Jakarta Selatan, Senin (8/5/2023) kemarin.