JAKARTA: Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto reportedly flew to Malaysia on Thursday morning for a courtesy visit with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Despite the ongoing 2024 Presidential Election campaign, he did not take leave on the third day and continued his duties as the Minister of Defence, ANTARA News Agency reported.
“The minister’s activity today involves a courtesy visit to Datuk Seri Anwar in Putrajaya,” said the ministry general secretariat’s public relations Brigadier-General Edwin Adrian Sumantha when contacted.
According to Edwin, Prabowo is scheduled to return to Jakarta later today without providing further details on the purpose of the visit.
An analyst views the meeting with Anwar as a positive step in strengthening cooperation and friendship between Indonesia and Malaysia.
In October, Anis Baswedan, the former governor of Jakarta and a presidential candidate, visited Malaysia for a meeting with Anwar in Putrajaya.
“It would be beneficial if the next Indonesian president, after the Feb 14, 2024 election, communicates more closely with Datuk Seri Anwar,” political communication analyst Dr Hendri Satrio told Bernama.
The close relationship between the two countries reflects the strength of democracy and would be recognised by both regional and non-ASEAN member countries, he added.
When asked about whether Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java and another presidential candidate, would also be visiting Malaysia, Hendri said that he was unaware of any such plans.
Indonesia started its 2024 presidential campaign on Tuesday with three candidates aiming to succeed incumbent President Joko Widodo, whose second term ends in October 2024. -Bernama
