P

olitical parties grouped under the Great Indonesia Coalition will compete against incumbent Governor Irwan Prayitno from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in the West Sumatra gubernatorial election in December, a politician has said.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) West Sumatra chapter chairman Pandong Spenra said his party, which has four seats in the province'€™s Regional Legislative Council (DPRD II) along with the Hanura Party with five seats, the National Awakening Party (PKB) with one seat and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) with one seat, had formed a coalition called Sumbar Bangkit (West Sumatra Awakening) on Saturday.

'€œWe need four more seats. The parties most likely to be approached are the NasDem Party with six seats, or the United Development Party [PPP] with eight seats,'€ Pandong told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Pandong said a coalition was required to meet the minimum DPRD II requirement of 13 seats to be able to propose governor and deputy governor candidates.

'€œWe will choose candidates that are really prepared to compete against incumbent Irwan Prayitno. We will pick a pair that can really give a good fight, so the public will have a choice,'€ he said.

West Sumatra Deputy Governor Muslim Kasim has emerged as a potential candidate to be nominated by the coalition.

It is widely known that Muslim has had a less-than-harmonious relationship with Irwan during the latter'€™s leadership. Although now 73-year-old, Muslim, a former Padang Pariaman regent for two periods, still appears fit enough to compete.

Governor Irwan, who has not yet confirmed cooperation with any party, is still viewed as a strong contender in the gubernatorial election.

It has been reported that the PKS will join with the Gerindra Party to nominate Irwan. Pesisir Selatan Regent Nasrul Abit, a Gerindra member, is thought to be Irwan'€™s running mate.

Gerindra West Sumatra Regional Executive Board deputy secretary Hidayat said his party was still building links with several parties, including the PKS. He added that the party'€™s central executive board would make a decision on candidates.

'€œThe board has instructed us to form a coalition and communicate with parties from the Red-and-White Coalition. It has asked us to consider local conditions, meaning we can also work with other parties outside it,'€ Hidayat said.

A political observer from Padang'€™s Andalas University, Asrinaldi, said based on the 65 seats in the DPRD II, the West Sumatra gubernatorial election would be contested by four candidates: Irwan, Muslim, Sadiq Pasadigue and Fauzi Bahar. However, he said Mulyadi from the Democratic Party and Epyardi Asda from the PPP also had a chance.

'€œThey'€™re all old faces. We hope fresh figures will emerge to bring change, like Ridwan Kamil in Ban-
dung and Tri Rismaharini in Surabaya. But it will not happen in the West Sumatra gubernatorial election in December. There is also a very small possibility of independent candidates emerging,'€ Asrinaldi said.

West Sumatra General Elections Commission (KPUD) head Amnasmen said 5.6 million voters would cast their ballots in the West Sumatra gubernatorial election in December. The election will be held simultaneously in 13 regencies and cities in the province.

'€œIn accordance with the election stages from the KPU, we will start preparing the election process from April, so we have nine months to get ready,'€ said Amnasmen.