Deputy governor candidate Nachrowi Ramli urged voters to look on the bright side of Jakarta's choking traffic jams – congested roads mean that more Jakarta residents can afford to buy a car.

"If we want to be honest and think positively, traffic jams could be seen as a blessing for Jakarta residents," Nachrowi said.

Nachrowi, the running mate of incumbent governor Fauzi Bowo, said that the capital's heavy traffic was a sign of rising incomes in Jakarta. The Democratic Party candidate also added that private car ownership was a sign of a good economy, improved security and good politics.

"People would not go out of their homes if the situation was not secure," he said. "People would not go to work and use transportation facilities and infrastructure if the economy was not improving. These facts are hardly seen by people."

To blame the traffic on Fauzi is not fair, Nachrowi argued, explaining that the capital's problems can be found across Indonesia.

"It is a complex [issue]," he said, adding that voters can't expect Jakarta to solve "all the problems that could not be solved in other regions. Just see how many jobless people from other regions came to seek work in Jakarta. "Who should solve it."

Nachrowi also claimed that he and Fauzi had a public transit plan to address Jakarta's traffic woes. "Foke gets dizzy while handling the traffic jam every day," he said. "If other regional heads get dizzy, please imagine how bad Foke is suffering from a headache."