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PKB chair 'confident' he will be Jokowi's running mate
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Appreciation: National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (left) attends the launch of the autobiography of noted ulema KH Ma'ruf Amin in Jakarta on March 12. United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy (center) also attended the book launch, which was held to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the ulema. (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)
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mid the heated debate on who would be suitable as Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s running mate, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar has expressed confidence that the incumbent would choose him to run for vice president in the 2019 election.
“I’m very optimistic and certain that only the PKB can support Pak Jokowi to his victory in [the 2019 presidential election] ,” Muhaimin said on Tuesday at the Sirna Miskin Islamic boarding school in Bandung, West Java, as quoted by tempo.co.
Muhaimin added that he had not made any specific preparations regarding the matter. “Of course, the most important thing is that we can fully grasp the real needs of ulemas, clerics and Muslim communities in the country."
Muhaimin also said he had not made any overtures to presidential candidates other than Jokowi.
“I’m still part of the coalition supporting Pak Jokowi and we feel comfortable with the coalition, which has journeyed with the President for the last five years and which will end in 2019. Hence, we will focus our attention on the fact that as of today, the one and the only [suitable] presidential candidate is Pak Jokowi,” said Muhaimin.
He was making a reference to the recent declaration of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that it was backing the President in his 2019 reelection bid.
He further said he would approach other candidates only after they had officially announced their candidacies. “Pak Prabowo and others have not yet declared their candidacy. Let’s just wait and see,” Muhaimin said, referring to several potential candidates, including Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. (sha/ebf)
