Prabowo orders universities to act as assistants to local governments in implementing ASRI movement
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto to mobilise universities to act as “assistants” to local governments (pemda) in implementing the national ASRI movement for safe, healthy, clean, and beautiful environments.
During a limited meeting (ratas) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, which lasted approximately three hours, Brian stated that President Prabowo requested a report on the involvement of universities in the national ASRI movement.
“The President has provided guidance and directions some time ago that universities, particularly those in fields relevant to regional needs, such as waste management and tidiness related to the President’s ASRI programme, should assist and back up local governments with researchers and professors,” said Brian Yuliarto in response to journalists’ questions after the meeting with the President.
“So, the President inquired about the progress. It is hoped that in every region, whether provinces, cities, or regencies, universities will have teams that act as assistants to the regional heads, helping to resolve those problems,” Brian added.
Therefore, Brian said he would soon summon universities from various regions, such as Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Indonesia (UI), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), to form teams that will provide input and recommendations to regional heads in their respective areas for the implementation of the ASRI movement.
At the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon until evening, President Prabowo summoned several of his subordinates. Not only Mendiktisaintek, but also Deputy Minister of Defence (Wamenhan) Donny Ermawan Taufanto, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Danantara Sigit Puji Santosa, and President Director (Dirut) of Garuda Indonesia Glenny Kairupan.
Wamenhan Donny and CTO Danantara Sigit left the palace complex first but declined to answer journalists’ questions.
Meanwhile, Dirut Garuda Indonesia Glenny left the palace complex through a gate inaccessible to journalists.