President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is ordering the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police to collaborate in supporting the government's priority projects, as part of the effort to boost economic growth.

Cooperation between the two forces was important amid a backlog of government's developments plans involving land acquisition, illegal fees and container dwelling times in the ports, Jokowi said on Friday in an executive meeting with high officials of the TNI and the National Police in Jakarta.

"I asked they settle those issues because they involve high-cost economic projects," he told journalists after the event.

The government was speeding up the development of projects as it focused on reaching 5.3 percent economic growth this year to create new job vacancies and a lower unemployment rate amid the current slowdown, Jokowi said.

The priority projects included Sumatran toll roads, railways, dams and ports in several areas in the country, Jokowi said.

"Therefore, the whole range of military and police should understand in which direction we will go. They must be ready and prepare measures," he added.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said his force is set to cooperate with the TNI and is committed to fully support the Jokowi administration's programs and polices.

"We will mobilize all resources and capabilities to make sure the national security and the country's sovereignity will meet the development goals," he said. (rin)(+)

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