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Image is king as presidential tickets embark on rebranding
Solid friendship: Presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo (third right) meets members from Slank (from left) Kaka, Ridho, Abdee, Bimbim and Ivan at Slankâs office in Jakarta on Tuesday
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Solid friendship: Presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo (third right) meets members from Slank (from left) Kaka, Ridho, Abdee, Bimbim and Ivan at Slankâs office in Jakarta on Tuesday. At the time of his gubernatorial election campaign Jokowi also visited Slank, again he met the band looking for support for his candidature for the countryâs top post. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) (third right) meets members from Slank (from left) Kaka, Ridho, Abdee, Bimbim and Ivan at Slankâs office in Jakarta on Tuesday. At the time of his gubernatorial election campaign Jokowi also visited Slank, again he met the band looking for support for his candidature for the countryâs top post. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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span class="inline inline-none">Solid friendship: Presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (third right) meets members from Slank (from left) Kaka, Ridho, Abdee, Bimbim and Ivan at Slank's office in Jakarta on Tuesday. At the time of his gubernatorial election campaign Jokowi also visited Slank, again he met the band looking for support for his candidature for the country's top post. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
With most of their messages being drowned out by intensifying smear campaigns, the camps of presidential candidates Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Prabowo Subianto are attempting to make themselves more presentable to voters.
On Tuesday, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) ticket of Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla introduced signature apparel for the presidential campaign on Sunday, emphasizing that it was meant to highlight the duo's teamwork.
In Menteng, Central Jakarta, Jokowi announced he would wear the red-and-blue checkered shirt he donned during his Jakarta gubernatorial race, while Kalla would wear a plain white shirt.
'This is what we will wear until July 9. We will wear different shirts to symbolize how we complement each other. Pak JK is an experienced politician, while I'm younger than him,' Jokowi said.
Kalla said he had decided not to wear the same checkered shirt to emphasize his individual character.
'Since I'm a vice presidential candidate, I will always wear a plain white shirt. Pak Jokowi will stay as he is and I will stay as I am. People have said there are twin suns on our ticket, which is not true.
'There will be only one sun with double the energy,' Kalla said, addressing fears he would outshine Jokowi if elected.
Later on Tuesday, Jokowi and Kalla addressed a meeting of the NasDem Party, one of the five parties supporting their candidacy.
The leaders of all parties in the coalition, Megawati Soekarnoputri of the PDI-P, Surya Paloh of NasDem, Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Wiranto of the Hanura Party and Sutiyoso of the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), were present.
Speaking before his audience, Jokowi said the campaign attire was also meant to distinguish the pair from their rivals, the Gerindra Party's Prabowo and his running mate Hatta Rajasa, from the National Mandate Party (PAN), who will also apparently don a plain white shirt.
'I used to wear a plain white shirt everywhere but it seems the other pair followed suit. It is alright. We are the trend setters,' Jokowi said, to laughter from the audience.
In a bid to ensure transparency, the Jokowi-Kalla ticket has asked its supporters to directly contribute to their campaign. The campaign team has opened a bank account so supporters can donate more easily.
'The bank account number is 1223010000172309, registered at [state-owned bank] BRI and the account owners are Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla. We expect the public, either individuals or companies, to channel their financial support, regardless of their amount, to the account in accordance with KPU [General Elections Commission] regulations,' Jokowi said.
'We hope that by opening a bank account, we will have better campaign management,' he went on, adding that his team promised to be transparent on the use of funds.
Later on Tuesday, Jokowi and Kalla secured support from the country's biggest rock band, Slank, which has millions of fans throughout the country who identify themselves as 'Slankers'.
The pair also secured support from 170 retired generals from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police.
Prabowo, apparently concerned that his image of a short-tempered military man could hamper his presidential bid, maintained on Tuesday he was a changed man.
Prabowo has been accused of punching one of his supporters while making his way out of the KPU last week after registering his presidential bid.
'Prabowo is no longer a short-tempered person. There is always the myth that Prabowo is ruthless. Now that he is retired, he is ruthless no longer,' Prabowo said as quoted by kompas.com.
Prabowo's running mate, Hatta, was evasive when questioned about the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) openly declaring its support for the ticket. 'I don't have to tell you who is supporting us. Just pray for us,' he told reporters.
