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resident Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has ordered all relevant parties to cut corners, work faster and plan thoroughly in preparing for the 2018 Asian Games, the country'€™s second opportunity to host the games since 1962.

Jokowi told a limited Cabinet meeting on Friday that he wanted '€œa marathon of meetings each week'€ to settle matters related to the plan, which involved a number of ministries, institutions and local administrations.

'€œBy 2016, I hope there will be no more problems related to venues,'€ the President said at the Presidential Office.

The meeting was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi and local government leaders such as South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.

Last Friday, Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama threatened to give up as a co-host of the games, following the refusal of the House of Representatives to approve the Jakarta administration'€™s proposal to build an athletes compound on an 11-hectare state-owned plot of land in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. The Jakarta administration has allocated Rp 4.9 trillion for the compound.

Although the House is fully aware that the Olympics Council of Asia (OCA) requires the construction of such a compound, the legislators insisted that the government should prioritize constructing low-cost apartments for the poor.

Ahok accused the House of prioritizing the interests of private companies in the area, where they want to construct commercial compounds and buildings.

'€œIf Jakarta is not ready, it would be better to call the Olympics Council of Asia to cancel the Asian Games in Jakarta,'€ Ahok said at his office.

The President apparently shared the frustrations of Ahok, his former deputy while serving as Jakarta governor from 2012 until October last year.

'€œPreparations in Palembang, Jakarta, Banten and West Java, must be carried out in detail since there is not much time,'€ he added.

The games is set to be held in Palembang, South Sumatra, Banten, Jakarta and West Java.

Since it will be an international event, the President also said that all details, including transportation and other supporting infrastructure, should be planned thoroughly.

'€œI want all to work fast while there is still time to check and recheck [things]. No more business as usual; let'€™s cut corners and find breakthroughs. I want maximum efforts for this big event,'€ Jokowi added. '€œI do hope for a successful 2018 Asian Games.'€

Minister Imam expressed his optimism that the games would be '€œmore festive than the previous one held in South Korea'€ in 2014.

According to Imam, the government has started to promote the plan to the public, saying that his office would start promoting it to more people nationwide in January next year.

'€œBecause all Indonesians need to know about this [plan], not only those who reside in Jakarta, West Java and Palembang,'€ Imam said, adding that Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo would also ask local leaders to take part in the campaign.

According to Imam, efforts to settle problems surrounding the athlete'€™s compound were still being discussed by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, State Secretary Pratikno and Ahok.

'€œWell, the President has asked [us] not to hinder things. This must be addressed for the sake of the people, including explaining the matter thoroughly to House Commission II,'€ Imam said, adding that Pratikno would soon meet with the commission to explain the plan thoroughly.