Jokowi would not be provoked: Mahfud

Yogyakarta (Antaranews Jogja) - Potential vice presidential nominee Mahfud MD said here on Thursday that he believed President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) would not be provoked regarding the choice of his running mate in his bid for reelection.

"Pak (Mr) Jokowi knows who really is supported and expected by the people," the former constitutional court chief justice said after speaking at a seminar on "Harmony in Diversity," adding that Jokowi has his own survey.

Mahfud made the statement when asked about the various survey results which showed his electability rate to be the highest among other potential candidates for Jokowi`s running mate.

"Indeed, it is high. I did read it in a news story. However, Pak Jokowi has his own survey," he noted.

He remarked that Jokowi has so far had a more detailed and continuous survey as well as instruments to check the background of a candidate and has always collected views from figures to measure one`s capacity to see if he is fit to be his running mate for the election in April next year.

"So, Pak Jokowi will not be cheated by provocative information, such as this candidate is supported by A, while the other represents B, and others represent others," he revealed.

In view of that, Mahfud explained that whoever would finally be picked as his running mate would be under Jokowi`s authority and that of his supporting parties.

"We, people, may only wait and hope that the result would be the best for the nation," he stated.

He added that so far no one from the presidential office had informed him about the possibility that he might be chosen as Jokowi`s running mate. Mahfud also denied that he had been requested to meet Jokowi to discuss about the issue.

"Where did you get the information from?. (There is) no information like that," he concluded.