Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former vice president Jusuf Kalla said Jokowi is the figure expected by Jakartans to lead the capital city.

"Jakarta needs someone who can reach out to the people," he said in his residence here on Thursday after receiving Jokowi (Joko Widodo) one of the candidates for Jakarta governor.

Jusuf Kalla said he had supported Jokowi because he has experience, knowledge and will.

"My advise is Jokowi should make you feel more secure and able to move around smoothly," he said.

Regarding his visit Jokowi meanwhile said that it was for relationship and seeking lessons.

"He is my senior from whom we can learn a lot. Two days will not be enough to tell his experience," he said.

A large number of Jakarta residents enthusiastically lined up to vote, on Thursday morning, in the second round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Jokowi is competing with incumbent governor Fauzi Bowo for the capital city`s number one position.

Joko Widodo paired with Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok (known as the Jokowi-Ahok pair) is contesting against incumbent Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo paired with Nachrowi Ramli (Foke-Nara pair) in the elections.

In a "Mantap Praja Jaya" special operation from September 12 until the end of the election, the Jakarta police deployed 16,605 joint forces including those from the regional military command to secure the run-off election.

Jakarta has a total population of 10,187,595 people.

Of a total of 6,996,951 million eligible voters on the commission`s list, more than 4.4 million came out in the first round of the polls on July 11, 2012, where the Jokowi-Ahok pair defeated the Foke-Nara pair.

Jokowi won 43 percent of the votes, falling short of the 51 percent majority needed to conclusively win the Jakarta gubernatorial elections in the first round of the polls.(*)

(H-YH/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012