'€œI'€™m not the one who can decide it; that's for the PDI-P. So from me, '€˜no comment'€™,'€ Megawati said at a press conference in Yogyakarta on Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

She said the party's presidential candidate would be decided after the legislative election, which is set to take place on April 9, 2014. '€œSo, please be patient. Just wait until after April 9,'€ she said.

Megawati has reportedly asked Jokowi to accompany her on a number of occasions; an indication that she may well give the Jakarta governor her full support. She added, however, that her invitations were part of her strategy to raise Jokowi's profile.

'€œWe'€™ve always wanted to help our party members so that it'€™s not only legislative candidates [who become well-known by the public]. It has sometimes been difficult to introduce our executive candidates to the people. And this is also partly an effort to expand the party member's knowledge in leadership,'€ she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, Jokowi was also unwilling to comment on whether he was ready to be nominated as the PDI-P's presidential candidate. '€œI'€™ve told you not to ask me about this issue. I think Ibu [Megawati] has fully conveyed her view,'€ he said.

Jokowi, who is also a member of the PDI-P, has consistently surpassed other potential 2014 presidential candidates in a number of recent surveys.

'€œAs a possible presidential candidate, Jokowi has no match from other candidates. He has come out on top among all respondents, regardless of their gender, urban-rural breakdown, ethnicity, based in Java or not, age, education, employment and religion,'€ said Indo Barometer executive director Qodhari. (ebf)

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