All parties have right to support any presidential candidate

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that all parties have the right to support any candidate scheduled for the presidential election in 2019.

"Each party has a right to express its view and support to anyone. That is the partys right," he said after opening the first national leadership meeting of Hanura party here on Friday.

He made the statement in response to Hanuras decision to support Jokowi as the president is also called for in the next presidential election.

"It is also the right of any person to convey support to express his political views and rights. I think that is all. You newsmen may also give support if you want to. It is alright. It is ones right," he remarked.

Jokowi has recently also received support from Perindo, Golkar, and also PPP.

With regard to the development, he noted that he was now still focusing on finishing his job and programs.

"I am still concentrating on finishing the job and programs that are still in progress," he noted.

He noted that political communication between the government and political parties had increased.

"If communication is good, implementation of every policy will be made easier as decisions could be immediately taken and programs immediately carried out," he stated. 

On the occasion, Jokowi raised the economic issue, calling for making use of the current momentum of growth.

"Our momentum now is very good compared to that of other countries. So we must make use of it as optimally as we can," he remarked.

He referred to recent surveys by World Poll and OECD that have put Indonesia in the first rank among other countries. 

Based on their surveys, Indonesia has got 80 points, followed by Switzerland, India, and Luxemburg.

"The trust and momentum that we have now must be used well. Do not let pessimism be fostered domestically while other countries have envied the growth and trust that we have enjoyed," he explained.

He called on the people not to be trapped by pessimism that they had made themselves.

"Be careful. What we must build is public optimism so that they continue to have hope for their future and remain optimistic," he noted.

Jokowi also revealed about infrastructure development that would continue to be carried out.

Some have already finished, but others are still ongoing or new ones are being started, including toll road development in Java as well as outside Java, including sea ports such as Makassar New Port, Kuala Tanjung, and soo Sorong in Papua and Tanjung Priok, as well as railways in Sumatra and Sulawesi.

Airports will also be expanded and built in small islands to boost the countrys bargaining power in the global competition. (*)

Source : ANTARA