TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The meeting took place between Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto has attracted public attention in the midst of a heating political climate ahead of the 2019 Presidential Election.

Luhut is known to be close to President Jokowi and also served as Prabowo’s Commander during Luhut’s military years. Both Jokowi and Prabowo are set to face each other in the upcoming election.

The growing speculation suggests that the meeting between the two generals discussed political deals that were corroborated by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) President Sohibul Iman and the United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Romahurmuziy.

Luhut confirmed to Tempo about the series of meetings he had made with Prabowo Subianto, including the recent meeting on Monday, April 16, at the Resto Sumire in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Jakarta.

“I did indeed meet with Prabowo, which can happen at least once a week. I would accommodate a meeting whenever he asks,” said Luhut at the Incheon Airport in South Korea this morning. The minister is on his way to Washington DC to attend a meeting with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank executives.

Despite confirming the meetings, he refused to discuss the specifics of the meeting. However, Luhut did state that there were several agreements arranged in the last meeting with Prabowo.

Luhut revealed that both men talked about national interests and to maintain a healthy political competition during the presidential election. “We agreed not to clash in the name of common national interest,” the minister revealed.

Furthermore, Luhut said that both men agreed not to utilize issues of religion to discredit each other in the upcoming presidential campaign.

Wahyu Muryadi