Jakarta. Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri and President-elect Prabowo Subianto planned for a meeting before the latter is inaugurated as the next president.

As the meeting nears, political expert Ujang Komarudin recently said that these two party leaders have always had good ties despite their differences.

Former president Megawati is the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). In the February election, PDI-P picked Ex-Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as their presidential nominee. Prabowo is not only the chairperson to Gerindra, but he is also Indonesia’s president-elect.

Prabowo will take over President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s position on Oct. 20. Jokowi’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka will also start assuming his tenure as the vice president. In 2009, Megawati was aiming to get reelected and picked Prabowo as her running mate, although the pair lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Boediono.

Ujang approves the upcoming Prabowo-Megawati meeting as something that reflects Indonesia’s unity.

“This meeting is part of the wishes of both sides to maintain the national interests. Whatever happens, we have to keep this country united,” Ujang told Beritasatu.com on Sunday.

“Prabowo and Megawati might come from different teams, coalitions or parties, but they have always had good relations. It is with Jokowi that Megawati has had rocky ties with. I don’t think Megawati has an issue with Prabowo,” Ujang said.

If both these party leaders actually meet, this will send a message to the political elites to synergize with one another for the sake of the country, according to Ujang. The analyst said: “It is better for these elites to talk and work together to build this country rather than fight one another.”

It was PDI-P’s senior official Puan Maharani who announced the Prabowo-Megawati meeting plans. Puan, who is also Megawati’s daughter, said earlier this month that the meeting would take place before the inauguration ceremony on Oct. 20 without going into details on the exact date. According to Puan, both party leaders will touch on a wide range of topics. She also gave a vague response on whether the meeting would discuss the possibility of joining the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) that endorsed Prabowo as president.

“Building ties is important. If God is willing, they [Prabowo and Megawati] will meet. But whether there will be talks [of PDI-P joining KIM], let’s just wait,” Puan said.