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Jokowi meets Moeldoko as speculation mounts
Sheâs got their vote: Legislative candidate for the National Mandate Party (PAN) Raslina Rasidin, a former actress in a local television soap opera, poses for the camera with supporters of the party at an outdoor rally in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday
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Sheâs got their vote: Legislative candidate for the National Mandate Party (PAN) Raslina Rasidin, a former actress in a local television soap opera, poses for the camera with supporters of the party at an outdoor rally in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) (PAN) Raslina Rasidin, a former actress in a local television soap opera, poses for the camera with supporters of the party at an outdoor rally in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
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span class="inline inline-none">She's got their vote: Legislative candidate for the National Mandate Party (PAN) Raslina Rasidin, a former actress in a local television soap opera, poses for the camera with supporters of the party at an outdoor rally in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo held a brief meeting on Thursday with Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Moeldoko, raising speculation the two were in talks over a possible collaboration in the 2014 presidential election.
Moeldoko has been touted as a potential vice presidential candidate to be paired with Jokowi, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) presidential candidate.
Jokowi, however, shrugged off the speculation, saying the meeting was to discuss an infrastructure project.
'This is work-related and has nothing to do with politics,' Jokowi told reporters.
Moeldoko said he was discussing a plan to construct a new road that would connect the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, with a toll road.
'You all know that the access road connecting the nearby toll gate and the TNI headquarters is narrow and winding. I, as the Army chief of staff, asked for help from the governor and thank God he approved it. We expect the road will be built in the near future,' Moeldoko said after the meeting.
Moeldoko said a budget had been allocated for the project.
Jokowi said the city administration would build a new 13-kilometer section to add to the existing 7-km stretch.
'We will also build a green area in front of the headquarters. We have allocated Rp 60.7 billion [US$5.37 million] to fund the project, including for land acquisition,' the PDI-P politician said.
Several PDI-P executives have hinted at the possibility of Moeldoko being nominated as Jokowi's running mate.
Moeldoko earlier said he had yet to make up his mind over a possible nomination.
'If I were to refuse the offer then everybody would call me arrogant but if I said yes, I'm still carrying out my duties as the military commander. I will focus my energy on the latter right now,' Moeldoko told The Jakarta Post.
Moeldoko has been known for his controversial statements.
In January, he caused a stir after saying he supported Australia's policy of turning back asylum-seeker boats to Indonesian waters. He later denied supporting the policy.
Sources within the PDI-P, however, have revealed that party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is considering three former generals: 63-year-old former Army chief of staff Ryamizard Ryacudu, 66-year-old former Army education and training commander Luhut Panjaitan and 62-year-old former National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar.
