Indonesian V-P candidate Mahfud MD to leave Cabinet post before election

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s vice-presidential hopeful Mahfud MD said he plans to quit his role as a senior minister, less than a month away from the election, to prevent any conflict of interest.

Chief Security Minister Mahfud, who is

the running mate of former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo

in the Feb 14 polls, said he is just waiting for the right time to submit his resignation. 

His decision follows Mr Ganjar’s call for candidates to leave their government roles and avoid any abuse of power in their bid.

There is no requirement to do so under rules issued by President Joko Widodo, whose

eldest son is contesting

as Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto’s running mate. 

Some 204 million Indonesians will

cast their ballots in February to elect a new leader

to succeed Mr Widodo, better known as Jokowi, as he finishes his second and last five-year term in October. 

Calls for election candidates to resign their government roles mounted in recent weeks amid concern some officials and institutions are backing a particular candidate at various occasions.

This is despite calls by Mr Widodo that the government, as well as military and police forces, must remain neutral. BLOOMBERG