JAKARTA: Maintaining and improving the Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral relationship will be one of the primary concerns for Anies Baswedan, if he emerges as victor in the 2024 Indonesia elections.
He said while he was thankful that the relations between both nations were strong, he added that there was still more that could be enhanced.
"Indonesia and Malaysia are 'tetangga' (friends) forever. On the government-to-government level, I can say that it is already very, very good.
"We need to improve business-to-business relations to increase trade and investment activities that link Malaysia and Indonesian entrepreneurs.
"People-to-people relations need to be improved further through cultural, educational and social arenas. These are opportunities for high interaction.
"There is no such thing as 'enough' when it comes to our bilateral relations.
"He said this in an interview with Malaysian media after casting his vote at Jalan Lebak Bulus 2 in South Jakarta, here.
Anies added that it was also vital for both countries to work more closely particularly on the issue of Indonesian migrant workers.
"We want to ensure that all workers have legal status, that they are accorded their rights and worker protection, as well as ensure they follow all the rules in Malaysia.
"We have many similar interests and we want everyone who works both in Indonesia and Malaysia to have the right to protection," he added.
Meanwhile, Anies maintained his stance against moving Indonesia's capital city from Jakarta to Kalimantan, touted as Nusantara.
He said the government should instead focus on providing much-needed infrastructure and facilities to its over 280 million citizens.
"We are not only relocating a city, but we are also building a new city which needs large investments, at a time when thousands of villages still do not have health facilities, schools, and basic infrastructure.
"It all boils down to a simple question. With the limited fiscal availability for development, where should we prioritise?
"Should we prioritise building a new city for bureaucrats or politicians, or use that money for the general public, so they can have better facilities?
"We are experiencing disparities across Indonesia. Building one city in Kalimantan does not address the issue of disparity, but creates new ones," he explained.
Anies is the only presidential candidate that does not wish to continue outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's legacy of moving the capital city to East Borneo, despite arguments that Jakarta was sinking and was too congested.
"Tokyo, in the 60s and 70s, was sinking. Tokyo is also much more congested than Jakarta is. Should Japan relocate its capital?
"Jakarta's land subsidence has been significantly decreasing compared with the last decade, and Jakarta is solving its traffic woes by building integrated public transportation, just as many as other metropolitan cities."
On his chances against frontrunner ex-general Prabowo Subianto, Anies said he was confident that he would be able to pass the first round, and head for the second run-off in June.
This is despite pollsters predicting that Prabowo would win easily, garnering over 50 per cent of the votes.
Anies said exit polls and surveys did not truly reflect the sentiments of the people, as there was an "environment of fear."
"It is common for respondents to experience a reactivity effect, where they will say things that will please the pollsters.
"We are optimistic, but we will wait until the quick count results at about 6pm later.
"Voting for nearly 205 million people closed in Indonesia at 1pm after being open for six hours.
The unofficial results through a process called "quick count" is expected to be released later today.