Kalla kicks off election campaign at home

Presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto kicked off their election campaigns Thursday in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, Kalla's hometown.

Speaking to thousands of supporters who thronged Karebosi Stadium, Kalla promised to accelerate development and create more jobs.

“Our economic growth remains sluggish because many of our citizens are unemployed. We promise to double economic growth if we are elected,” Kalla said, citing the country’s abundant human and natural resources to support his development program.

Kalla also pledged to pay more attention to the empowerment of the younger generations, by providing more adequate loans to young entrepreneurs.

During his speech, Kalla often broke into Bugis dialect, his mother tongue.

Wiranto compared Indonesia to a plane requiring a competent pilot and co-pilot.

“We need pilots who can fly the plane faster. We are the ones,” he said.

The spouses of the candidates and some prominent politicians were also present in the rally. Among the guest politicians were Ali Muchtar Ngabalin from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and others from the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Despite its members' presence at the rally, the two parties officially support rival presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.