REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reiterated that he was neither a member of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) nor a son of a PKI member or a Singaporean businessman. He made the statement during inaugration of Minangkabau International Airport train, in West Sumatra on Monday.

"I have to respond to some issues lately saying that I am a PKI member. If such an issue was ignored and if I had not given an explanation, then it would have spread everywhere," he remarked.

Jokowi said he was born in 1961, and the PKI rebellion had taken place in 1965. "Hence, how was it possible for an infant to join the PKI?" he questioned.

His father was also accused of being a PKI member, he noted.

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There are several Islamic organizations, such as the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, in Solo. "Please check the issue and clarify with several Islamic mass organizations existing in Solo," he added.

False information of Jokowi's father being a Chinese businessman from Singapore has also been circulating. "I am a kampong boy," Jokowi stated, explaining that his father was from Karanganyar while his mother belonged to Boyolali, both in Java.

Jokowi called on all elements of the nation to think positively and stay away from negative thinking. "We should think productive things, such as infrastructure development, for advancing the nation and country," he added.

The head of state was accompanied by First Lady Iriana, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimulyono, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno during the inauguration ceremony.

Jokowi called on Indonesians to use means of public transportation provided by the government to ease the flow of traffic.

"Without appropriate development of mass transportation, traffic jams will persist. Every city in the world will experience congestion if there is no development of means of mass transportation," Jokowi stated while inaugurating the Minangkabau International Airport railway here, Monday.

Construction of the Minangkabau airport train is the third of its kind in Indonesia after those in Jakarta and Medan in North Sumatra Province. The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Railway has helped to reduce travel time to the airport, he added.

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