Wage betrayal forgotten, union leader heaps praise on ‘caring’ and ‘intelligent’ deputy governor Sandiaga

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Kompas.com – January 28, 2018
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Iqbal speaking in front of Sandiaga Uno, Jakarta - January 28, 2018 (Kompas)
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Iqbal speaking in front of Sandiaga Uno, Jakarta - January 28, 2018 (Kompas)
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Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) President Said Iqbal continues to heap praise on Jakarta Deputy Governor Jakarta Sandiaga Uno.

Uno was visiting the Kalisari RW03 administrative district in East Java on Sunday January 28 to meet with local residents. Iqbal also lives in the area.

In giving his greetings to Uno, Iqbal invited the residents to shout out a slogan that had already been prepared.

“If I say ‘Pak Wagub’ [Mr Deputy Governor], [you] say ‘Advance the city, advance the city, advance the city’”, said Iqbal, to which residents immediately responded.

Said praised Uno as a smart person and overseas graduate saying that Uno is a person who has an open heart.

He also referred to Uno as one of the richest people in the country. As he made jokes Iqbal said that Uno could sign [and endorse] proposals from residents.

“He’s a really great person right, really great. He’ll sign any and all proposals [from residents]”, said Iqbal.

“We pray for Pak Sandi and Pak Anies [Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan] that they will not be corrupt. That they can bring prosperity to Jakarta’s residents without having to get angry”, he added.

His praise didn’t stop there, with Iqbal also lauding a move by the Jakarta provincial government to defend pedicab drivers which, according to Iqbal, are not second-class citizens.

Iqbal said he hoped that the Jakarta provincial government’s annual budget, which will be as high as 77.1 trillion rupiah, can be used for programs that will side with Jakarta’s poor.

“Many smart people come to power with promises of being able to improve the future for ordinary residents. But not many people have a sense of concern and love for the little people”, he said.

Notes

Only two months ago in November, Said Iqbal publicly berated Baswedan and Uno as “liars” saying that workers who backed them had been “used” and that they prioritised the interests of employers over workers after Baswedan reneged on an election promise to use the 2003 labour law to set the 2018 minimum wage rather than a 2015 government regulation which ties annual wage rises to inflation and productivity. See Said Iqbal now says Ahok was ‘a better protector of the people’ than new Jakarta governor Baswedan.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Puji-pujian Said Iqbal untuk Sandiaga....]

Source: http://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2018/01/28/17365391/puji-pujian-said-iqbal-untuk-sandiaga

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