Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have been busy travelling and meeting groups of people across the country in the last several weeks, leaving the capital "empty".
With a full travel schedule on the agenda for both leaders over the next few months, concerns have been raised over whether they can still perform state tasks during the administration's last five months.
On Sunday, President SBY and his wife Ani Yudhoyono made a surprise visit to the Sukawati market in Bali, the island's largest trading site for handicrafts and souvenirs.
During their one-hour visit, both traders and visitors were competing with each other to get the first glimpse at the couple and trying to shake hands with the president.
"Since yesterday, I have visited places like this, such as Tampaksiring and Kintamani. The number of tourists has increased. We should maintain this condition so the economy will keep moving and the people's earning swill keep increasing," said SBY, who was in Bali since Saturday after touring Surabaya.
SBY and his running mate former Bank Indonesia Boediono have declared their bid for the presidency.
Earlier, rival presidential candidate Kalla made a series of visits to traditional markets, including Tanah Abang in the central Jakarta.
Since declaring their bid for presidency, SBY and Kalla are said to have not communicated or attended cabinet meetings together.
Kalla, who is also chairman of the Golkar party, participated in many activities over the weekend in order to meet thousands of people, from ordinary citizens to politicians.
Kalla inaugurated the launching of Grand Mangku Putra Hotel in Cilegon, Banten on Sunday. Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah is among the high-ranking officials attending the launching.
After the launching, Kalla accompanied by his vice presidential hopeful Wiranto to meet Muslim clerics, local people and members of the Golkar party in Cilegon. The clerics and the local people read out declarations supporting Kalla and Wiranto in the presidential election.
In his speech, Kalla promised to improve the people's welfare and make Indonesia an internationally respected country if he was elected as president.
The tour to Cilegon was made after Kalla received support from the Ulema National Awakening Party (PKNU) and Federation of Transport Workers in Indonesia on Sunday.
"I promise a better government. The people's mandate must be fulfilled by a fair, honest and dignified government," Kalla said at the PKNU's leader meeting Sunday.
On Saturday, Kalla also inaugurated his winning team consisting of 100 women of the party's member to garner support from female voters.
Both Kalla and Wiranto, however, strongly denied the intensive meeting was part of their early campaigning for the presidential election. "This is not part of the campaign, it is merely a bond of friendship," Wiranto said.
The presidential election will be held in July 8 with three contestants – SBY, Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri – to compete in the election.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) planned to push forward the start of election campaign to May 30, from the initially scheduled June 13. (Mar)
[Wasti Atmodjo contributed to the story from Gianyar, Bali.]