"I need to note this, I already conveyed this during the debate last night, that I believe 100 percent in our TNI. So once again, no one should underestimate our TNI. Do you agree?" Jokowi said before thousand of his supporters, in a public campaign in Karebosi Square here on Sunday.
Also present in the campaign were Vice President Jusuf Kalla and wife Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah, former South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, Chairman of the National Democratic Party Surya Paloh, and chief of Jokowi's National Campaign Team Erick Thohir.
"We have to protect such a large country. Therefore we have to have a big power, as what I said last night that TNI and the Indonesian Police are big powers," he said.
According to Jokowi, Indonesia has the strongest military power in Southeast Asia, and it ranked fifth in Asia and 15th in the world.
In the presidential debate held on late Saturday, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has questioned the capability of Indonesia's weaponry.
"Mr Jokowi, please ask your military adviser. It does not mean that I do not trust the TNI. How many submarines do we have? What type, what the capability is? How many aircraft do we have? With a vast area equals to Europe, how many fighters do we have, and how many missile?" Subianto asked.
The two presidential candidate pairs have run their public campaign from March 24 to April 13. On April 17, over 190 million voters will set off to the polls to elect president and vice president, and members of the parliament.
Translator: Desca LN, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
