Addressing several thousand of his loyalists, including hundreds of retired military and police personnel, at the Tegaltirto Berbah field in Sleman District, Yogyakarta Province, on Friday, Uno voiced his commitment to focusing on economic issues.
"Along with Mr Prabowo Subianto, I will focus on economy, the economy which is able to make the prices of basic necessities stable and affordable, and to create job markets," he noted, adding that he had visited 1,400 places around the country over the past months.
During his visits, Uno said he listened to the people's aspirations and absorbed their concerns over Indonesia's economic stagnation and their complaints regarding the expensive prices of basic necessities.
"Hence, please tell your relatives, colleagues, neigbors, family members, and the people, at large, that the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno pair's focus is economy," he emphasized.
"Insya Allah (with God's willing), if we were to be elected the president and vice president, the prices of basic necessities would be stable, and the availability of job markets would be ensured," he affirmed.
Uno, widely known as the former deputy Jakarta governor and a successful businessman-turned-politician, was handed over a "blangkon" (traditional Javanese hat) by Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's cousin, Romo Aning.
"This 'blangkon' is offered, with the hope that Mr Sandi will become a knight and a well-respected and authoritative figure," Aning stated.
Before delivering a speech at the Tegaltirto Berbah field, Uno had breakfast at a grilled fish restaurant "Rumah Makan Ikan Bakar Sumilir Berbah."
He urged thousands of his loyalists and volunteers to meet their neighbors, good friends, and family members and to spread the word around that if the Subianto-Uno pair were mandated to lead Indonesia, they would ensure cheap prices of staple food, ease in finding jobs, and happy lives for the people.
Indonesian citizens living in Europe, including those in France, were also urged to exercise their political rights by casting their votes in the parliamentary and presidential elections, due to be held on April 17, 2019.
In connection with the 2019 presidential election, the General Election Commissions (KPU) has prepared five rounds of presidential debates for the Jokowi-Amin and Subianto-Uno pairs.
The first and second presidential debates were held on Jan 17 and Feb 17, 2019, during which the two presidential candidates expressed their views and perspectives on selected issues, such as law, corruption, terrorism, environment, and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, during the third round of debate, broadcast and live streamed by the country's national TV channels on Mar 17, two Indonesian vice presidential candidates highlighted educational, employment, health, as well as social and cultural issues.
The presidential debates are expected to help some 192 million eligible voters, who will participate in this democratic process, to become well-informed on the two pairs' capacity and capability.
Empowered with sufficient information about the candidates, they will be able to vote rationally. Whoever wins the upcoming presidential election, Indonesia will have a new pair of capable president and vice president.
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Victorianus SP, Rahmad Nasuti
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
