REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will, for the time being, halt the distribution of bicycles to winners of his quiz usually held during meetings with people. He stopped giving gift as the election campaign has begun.

"Starting from yesterday, we are no longer allowed to distribute bicycles," he noted here on Tuesday while distributing land certificates to people in the district of Bogor, West Java.

Jokowi will seek reelection as president in the election scheduled in April next year and has named chief cleric KH Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate. He will compete against former military general Prabowo, whom he had defeated in the election in 2014, Prabowo currently pairs with young businessman Sandiaga Uno.

Jokowi first called out to thousands of people attending the certificate distribution event to come up to the stage to answer his quiz but said that unlike before, no bike would be distributed to the winners. However, thereafter, none approached the stage.

"It is the distribution of bikes that makes the event livelier. However, now, as no bike will be given, no one comes forward," he pointed out.

President Jokowi had earlier expressed readiness to adhere to all campaign rules set by the General Election Commission (KPU).

Several months ago, the General Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) had appealed to him to not distribute bicycles soon after he is declared as an election candidate by the KPU.

Based on the election law, the campaign period is set from September 23, 2018, to April 13, 2019, while the election will be held on Apr 17.

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