JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jakarta Governor Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo have attended the Congress of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) in Gelora Bung Karno Senayan, Jakarta Wednesday (Jul 3), but only Jokowi got rousing applause from thousands of teachers participated in the Congress.

Governor Jokowi received thunderous applause when PGRI Chairman, Sulistyo, mentioned the Jakarta Governor’s name in his opening speech. While in the counterparts, SBY along with First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and Cabinet members, who their names have been mentioned earlier by Sulistyo, received no applause.

The enthusiasm from thousands of teachers continued by hailing Jokowi’s name, just after Jokowi accompanied SBY to his presidential car for leaving the Congress.

“Jokowi for President,” shouted all teachers.

Jokowi has just served as Jakarta Governor for eight months after inaugurated on October 15, 2012. The PDI-P politician and former Mayor of Surakarta in Central Java, is currently a meteor in Indonesian politics.

All recent surveys placed Jokowi as the most potential candidate to be the next President of the Republic of Indonesia. Jokowi, however, said that he just wanted to focus on resolving Jakarta’s complicated problems such as gridlock, flooding, poor health service, etc.

By Haryanto Suharman (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)