T

he Gerindra Party has rejected claims that it would nationalize foreign assets should its presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, be elected president.

It asserted that under Prabowo's leadership, the government would respect contractual agreements with foreign investors while protecting national interests.

'Our party platform, the 'Gerindra Six-Point Action Plan to Transform the Nation', does not mention any intention of nationalizing or taking over assets owned or controlled by foreign investors,' Hashim Djojohadikusumo, deputy chairman of Gerindra's board of patrons and the brother of Prabowo, said in a statement.

'Should Prabowo become president, we will respect any contractual agreements that have been made between the Republic of Indonesia and any foreign investor. Yet we will also seek a fair deal for our people within the scope of our Constitution,' he added.

Hashim further explained that Gerindra aimed to create an economy that would uphold the rights of the people: an economy of and for the people with established food sovereignty and security of energy and water resources.

'Foreign investment goes both ways. We will ensure that proper and fixed permits and investment procedures are put in place, which are transparent and fair to both sides,' he emphasized.

In an interview recently uploaded to YouTube, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned the country's voters about promises made by presidential hopefuls, such as the promise to nationalize foreign assets pronounced by a brave, strong and nationalistic figure.

Many assumed that such a warning was directed at Prabowo due to his nationalistic views expressed in a number of speeches.

However, Hashim believed that Yudhoyono was not referring to Prabowo because neither Gerindra nor Prabowo had ever made threats to nationalize foreign assets.

Meanwhile on Sunday, an executive of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said that the decision to support the presidential bid of Prabowo would be officially announced at a national party meeting later this week.

PAN politician Viva Yoga Mulyadi said that the decision would most likely be announced on Wednesday.

'We will make the announcement on May 14 during a national meeting, which is the highest decision-making mechanism, second only to the national congress,' Viva said as quoted by Antara.

Viva said that the planned meeting would also make crucial decisions.

'The second item on the agenda in the meeting will be to name Hatta Rajasa as a vice-presidential candidate and the third will be to welcome Prabowo who will attend the meeting. I think this is all clear,' Viva said.

He said that Hatta would be a perfect vice-presidential candidate given his technocratic experience in government.

'He has been appointed as a minister three times and he knows the challenges Indonesia will face in the future,' he said.

Previously PAN executive Tjatur Sapto Edy had confirmed that his party would join the Gerindra coalition.

Tjatur said that PAN would join the coalition as it shared Prabowo's vision of economic nationalism.

'We recognize that Prabowo can implement the spirit of Article 33 of the Constitution,' Tjatur said as quoted by Antara.

The article stipulates that the country's economy is based on the principles of democracy, fairness and self-sufficiency and that all vital production sectors and natural resources must be controlled by the state on the behalf of the people.