Jakarta, Dec. 18 -- Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono called for equitable national development that benefits all citizens, including those living in villages.

He said it is essential for the state's presence to be felt fairly at the village level through stronger infrastructure, improved education, accessible healthcare, and food security.

"We must collectively strive for equitable development. Well-maintained, paved, and interconnected village roads are part of social justice," he said in a written statement received on Thursday.

Yudhoyono noted that Indonesia is a large nation comprising 38 provinces, 514 districts and cities, and a population of more than 280 million people. He added...