JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (pic) has denied allegations widely discussed on social media that a cabinet minister resorted to violence during a policy dispute at a cabinet meeting.
Responding to questions from reporters on Tuesday (Sept 19) on a trip to a traditional market in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, Jokowi played down the speculation when asked about the alleged violence.
Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media have said that a senior minister resorted to strangling a deputy minister before the cabinet meeting started.
The senior minister was alleged to have been furious after learning that the deputy minister's boss failed to show up for the cabinet meeting.
"As far as I know, it didn't happen. There's no way that strangling happened," Jokowi told reporters with a chuckle.
The President went on to say that the public should always verify information from social media before drawing their own conclusions.
"This is a political year, so you will get a lot of this kind of [mis]information. Please always cross-check the information you find, don't swallow it whole," Jokowi said.
Jokowi was visiting the Jatinegara traditional market to check the availability and affordability of stable commodities, especially rice.
