President Jokowi a proud father at son's ACSI graduation

SINGAPORE - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was in Singapore on Friday for his son's graduation from ACS International.

According to The Jakarta Post, he flew to Singapore on an economy-class flight to attend the graduation ceremony of his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.

Kaesang, 19, completed his international baccalaureate at ACS International Singapore.

His sister, Ms Kahiyang Ayu, 23, who was at the ceremony, told The Straits Times: "I am very proud of him and have motivated him throughout his time here."

Mr Joko also added that he was "very happy" to be able to attend the graduation and see his son, and thanked the school "for helping to teach my son".

He said he had sent his son to school overseas to train him to become independent, reported The Straits Times.

At the ceremony, President Jokowi gamely took selfies with his son and his friends.

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On Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said the President, along with a small entourage of Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) officers, would fly from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport on a commercial flight.

According to Andi, Jokowi refused to use the official presidential aircraft because the purpose of his visit was personal.

"Pak Jokowi will travel as Joko Widodo, not as President," he told reporters. Jokowi and First Lady Iriana have three children: sons Kaesang and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 27, and daughter Kahiyang Ayu, 23.

candicec@sph.com.sg