About 1,800 Indonesians turned up at their country's embassy in Chatsworth Road yesterday to catch a glimpse of their visiting President.

President Joko Widodo arrived in Singapore yesterday, ahead of a Leaders' Retreat with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today, as Singapore and Indonesia mark 50 years of bilateral ties.

A highlight of the retreat will be a fly-past by fighter jets from Singapore and Indonesia, which will take place in the skies over Marina South this afternoon.

At the Indonesian Embassy, Mr Joko was mobbed by the excited crowd when he arrived. Many of them queued for hours to meet him, including Ms Triningsih, 43, a domestic worker who goes by one name. She asked for time off from her employer to attend the event.

"I was so excited that I haven't been able to sleep or eat since yesterday," she told The Straits Times.

Ms Marta Solikadi, 28, a domestic helper of five years, said the event was an opportunity to see the President and meet her friends. "Jokowi is a good president and I have been very excited to meet him. I woke up at 4am today because I could not sleep any more," she said.

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