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Indonesian President Joko Widodo (third left) and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre) greet officials during a welcoming ceremony at the Bunga Raya complex of KLIA airport in Sepang February 5, 2015. ― Reuters pic
PETALING JAYA, Feb 5 — Indonesian President Joko Widodo touched down in Malaysia in style, stepping off a powerful jet at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
For Joko, or Jokowi as he is affectionately known, to touch down in Malaysia in the presidential jet, was seen not only as a display of might but also an indication of the image Joko wanted to project to Malaysia, an important country in the context of Indonesian foreign policy.
A conscientious leader, Joko usually travels in economy class via commercial airlines.
This is the fourth foreign visit for which Joko has used the plane — a RM330-million Boeing Business Jet 2 with a range of 5,620 nautical miles and a top speed of 541kph.
Malay Mail</em>." data-reactid="33" type="text">“His first foreign visit on the plane was to Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last November. The second was to Brisbane for the G20 summit,” Indonesian deputy chief of mission Hermono told Malay Mail.
“The plane is still new, and has special features, such as a presidential room near the front of the aircraft.”
Receiving Joko and his wife, Iriana, as they set foot on Malaysia soil were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Joko was accorded a ceremonial welcome in which the national anthems of Malaysia and Indonesia were played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
The Indonesian president’s visit was at the invitation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.
Tomorrow, he is scheduled to hold meetings with Najib in Putrajaya and visit Proton to explore opportunities between Malaysia and Indonesia in the automotive industry.
He departs for Brunei the same day.
Last year, Joko became leader of the country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
Joko, 53, won the Indonesian presidential election last July narrowly in a thrilling race, beating expectations and sparking a dispute from his opponent who pulled out at the last minute.
Like hundreds of thousands of Indonesians, Jokowi was born into poverty in 1961, the eldest of four children.
The son of a timber collector, he was reportedly born by a riverside slum, and his family was forcibly relocated three times to make way for redevelopment.
In the late 1980s, Joko set up his own furniture business to great success, at one time employing over a thousand people.
By 2002, he was heading Surakarta’s powerful furniture manufacturer’s association.
In 2010, Joko had an estimated net worth of US$1.5 million (RM5.4 million).
Joko launched into politics in 2005 when he was elected mayor of hometown Surakarta, a city of 520,000.
Joko is a man with many missions: Breaking the political gridlock, fighting a slowing economy, soothing religious extremism, overcoming bureacracy, among others.
It remains to be seen if Joko will achieve his goals during his five-year presidential term, but Joko is confident he will be able to command the attention of world leaders as he attempts to take Indonesia to the next level.
After all, his name means “man of courage” in Javanese.
jokowi
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