Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that he can eliminate the hoodlum menace in the country by creating more job opportunities for all Indonesian people.

"There will be no hoodlums and crimes if we provide them work as they will all be tired after working. Hoodlums are rampant because many people do not have jobs," Jokowi remarked while attending a cordial meeting with members of the Indonesian Chinese Association (INTI) here on Thursday.

He said that one of the ways to increase job opportunities was to start the construction of electricity networks, which will cover the entire country.

"If electricity is developed, it will boost rapid development of industries. Of course, we will also build ports, roads, double tracks, and overcome the problem of business licensing, so that all will be keen to make investments and will help to increase job opportunities," emphasized the presidential hopeful of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

Jokowi explained that all of these plans will be financed using the state budget and private investment. By offering easy business license procedures, it will become easier for the private sector to invest.

"That is why, if you have money, you should not keep it under your pillows, but invest it," he humorously stated.

Jokowi promised that if he is elected in the next presidential race, he will optimize the development of low-cost natural gas-based or coal-based electricity networks while hunting down all forms of mafia practices on fuels, which have created problems in Indonesia.

Indonesia will hold a presidential election on July 9, 2014, which will be contested by two pairs: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla.

Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the founder of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Jokowi is Jakartas governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, Jusuf Kalla, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.

(A014/INE)
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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