Puan Maharani Urges Jokowi to Keep Political Climate Cool

House Speaker and PDIP politician Puan Maharani has spoken out about former President Joko Widodo’s political safari to several regions, which began in Lampung on 25-27 June. Puan stated that political visits are the right of every individual, and therefore no one has the right to prohibit them. “A political safari is the right of every citizen to make visits anywhere,” Puan said after presiding over a plenary session at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday (30/6). However, the daughter of PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri reminded everyone that they should be able to maintain conduciveness amidst the current global political uncertainty. “However, in the current uncertain global situation, it would be better if we could all work together to keep the situation conducive. That means, let’s just keep things cool,” she said. Jokowi began his political safari in Lampung by undergoing a traditional ritual to receive the title “Baginda Pemuka Bangsa” at Kedatuan Keagungan, Jalan Sultan Haji, Bandar Lampung, on Saturday (27/6). During the event, Jokowi, seated and dressed in local traditional attire, stepped on the head of a buffalo placed on a red carpet. DPP PSI Chairman Bestari Barus confirmed that the ritual was not conducted at Jokowi’s request, but rather by the Lampung traditional community as a token of appreciation for his contributions during his presidency. “The ritual was not created by Pak Jokowi. Pak Jokowi was merely the person bestowed with the title,” Bestari said when contacted on Monday (29/6). Meanwhile, Lampung traditional leader Mawardi Rahma Harirama, who holds the title Sultan Seghayo Dipuncak Nur, explained that the title-giving procession, or muakhi, has been an inseparable part of Lampung culture for thousands of years. “This muakhi (traditional title) procession has been taking place in Lampung for thousands of years. It is part of the implementation of piil pesenggiri, the Lampung cultural philosophy that prioritises nemui nyimah or maintaining good relations,” Mawardi said.