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Prabowo visits Jokowi, offers help after Ahok named suspect
Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto met President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, promising his readiness to help the government.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (left) and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto during a press conference in the backyard of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. (Antara/Widodo S Jusuf)
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erindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto visited President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, promising his readiness to help the government.
“We have the same values, so I have an obligation to help whenever and wherever,” Prabowo said.
He said he always gave input to the government and appreciated Jokowi’s openness in accepting his suggestions.
“I think this [meeting] is beneficial for the unity of the nation,” Prabowo, who was Jokowi’s former rival during the presidential election in 2014, said.
Jokowi said he visited Prabowo's residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Oct. 31.
Before having lunch, Jokowi and Prabowo had a closed-door meeting.
The October meeting was held amid increasing protests against Jakarta incumbent governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama's alleged blasphemy.
On Nov. 4, hundreds of thousands of Muslim conservatives staged a rally in front of the palace, demanding the government to prosecute Ahok for his alleged blasphemous statement about a verse in the Quran during an event in Thousand Islands last month.
The rally ended in violence. Two police cars were set on fire.
Jokowi accused "political actors" for the rally turning chaotic.
Thursday’s meeting was scheduled after police named Ahok a suspect in the alleged blasphemy case on Wednesday.
