Can man-of-the-people Widodo micromanage 240 million Indonesians?

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) greets sago farmers during his visit to Sungai Tohor in Meranti Island, Riau Province, Sumatra, November 27, 2014 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. REUTERS/Antara Foto/Joko Sulistyo

JAKARTA (Reuters) - From flying economy class to making surprise visits to street markets and poor neighbourhoods, the leadership style of new Indonesian President Joko Widodo is proving very different to his predecessors, who were often seen as stiff and aloof.

On a recent visit to cocoa plantations in eastern Sulawesi, Widodo squatted on the ground to chat with farmers about boosting their output. Excited onlookers scrambled up trees to get a better look at the president in his casual clothes and sneakers.