Sandiaga said he visited the houses of all parties’ leaders and several ministers at the Widya Chandra ministerial complex to tighten relationships with them. He visited around 15 places on Wednesday, the first day of Idul Fitri, and another 10 on Thursday.

"This year, I am visiting the chairmen of political parties, too. I'll also visit people in five areas of North and West Jakarta tomorrow," he said after attending an open house event at the official residence of Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution in South Jakarta on Thursday.

Sandiaga, the former chief of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi), who now chairs the small and medium enterprises committee at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), has won endorsement from the Gerindra Party to run for Jakarta governor.

Although busy with his visit schedule, he said he still enjoyed ketupat (rice cones), opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk), Betawi-style semur (stew) and sayur godog (vegetable soup cooked in coconut milk) at the house of his mother’s, etiquette expert Mien R. Uno.

"But the food was from my mother-in-law," he said, laughing. (ags)

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