TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Anies-Sandi attend mass prayer, Quran recitation before debate
Jakarta gubernatorial candidate pair Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno participated in a mass prayer and Quran recitation attended by thousands of Muslims at Sunda Kelapa Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday evening, one day before they participate in the final candidate debate.
Change Size
Upbeat -- Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan (right) and his running mate, Sandiaga Uno (left), sing with the self-styled king of 'dangdut', Rhoma Irama, who also heads his own political party, the Peaceful and Benign Islam (Idaman) Party, in a campaign event in Cibubur, .Jakarta, on Feb. 2. (Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
J
akarta gubernatorial candidate pair Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno participated in a mass prayer and Quran recitation attended by thousands of Muslims at Sunda Kelapa Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday evening, one day before they participate in the final candidate debate.
At the event, also attended by Muslim leaders including Ustadz Bachtiar Nasir and Habib Ali Assegaf, Anies delivered a speech saying that Moslem communities in Indonesia had set a good example as the most organized and peaceful Muslims in the world.
(Read also: Final debate last chance to win voters)
Mentioning two large rallies on Nov. 4 and Dec. 2 held to protest Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s alleged blasphemy, Anies deplored the fact that the National Monument compound in Central Jakarta was no longer available for religious activities.
He also asked Muslims to pray for him and his running mate, Sandiaga, so they could stay calm and deliver good answers during the candidate debate scheduled for Friday evening.
“Please pray for me so I can have a clear mind and answer [all debate questions] easily,” he said.
The third debate will be the last showdown for the Jakarta gubernatorial candidates to win the support of swing voters in the tight race, for which pollsters are still finding difficulties predicting the winner. Held two days before the official campaign period ends, the debate will address population and quality-of-life issues. (ebf)
