Jakarta. Vice-presidential candidate Mohammad Mahfud MD said on Friday that Indonesian economic growth has not reached the 7 percent mark since the end of long-serving President Soeharto's reign in 1998, largely attributed to pervasive corruption.

Delivering his opening statements at the VP candidates’ debate in Jakarta, Mahfud expressed confidence that the country could achieve a remarkable 7 percent economic growth within a year through robust measures to combat corruption.

“Historically, the only period when our economic growth surpassed 7 percent was from 1989 to 1991 during the so-called New Order era. However, such progress has not been witnessed in the reform era,” Mahfud said.

"When consulting experts about the feasibility of attaining a 7 percent growth rate in a year, they highlighted corruption as the biggest stumbling block, despite our abundant natural resources and workforce potential," Mahfud added.

Dressed in traditional Madurese attire, Mahfud mentioned his encounters with both ordinary citizens and investors, who echoed the sentiment that rampant corruption posed a significant obstacle to economic advancement.

Pledging to prioritize the anti-corruption campaign if elected alongside presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud, who currently serves as the chief security minister, vowed to tackle corruption issues head-on if their candidacy succeeds in the election.