JP/Swi

After years of battling sectarian politics, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided on Thursday to go the extra mile in securing his reelection chances by picking the leader of the nation’s highest Islamic institution as his running mate for the 2019 election.

In an apparent attempt to win the hearts of Muslim voters and to preempt political attacks questioning his credentials as a Muslim leader, the incumbent candidate chose Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin as his vice-presidential candidate.

The surprise decision came at the eleventh hour, shocking many who believed Jokowi would pick former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD.

Jokowi announced his decision after consulting leaders of the nine political parties backing his reelection bid at an upscale restaurant in Central Jakarta.

Speaking to the press, Jokowi lauded Ma’ruf as a wise religious figure with vast experience as a lawmaker, regional councillor and presidential adviser. Other than leading the MUI, Ma’ruf, who turns 76 next year, is also the supreme leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the nation’s largest Islamic organization and a board member of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education, Jokowi added.

“I think that [Ma’ruf and I] complement each other,” Jokowi told the press briefing. “[We are a] nationalist-religious [pair].”

However, Ma’ruf may not have been Jokowi’s first choice, and his appointment could be the result of the current realpolitik.

The President, for instance, had expressed his intention to run with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, but there was no guarantee that Kalla, who has been elected twice, could legally run a third time.

There had been no sign that the Constitutional Court would issue a ruling regarding a judicial review petition that would clarify whether Kalla could be elected vice president again.

As of Thursday afternoon, Mahfud was poised to be announced as Jokowi’s running mate, however a number of political parties reportedly rejected his candidacy for a number of reasons. The National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) had cast doubt on Mahfud’s ability to bring NU votes to Jokowi as he was not considered an NU member.

Jokowi could not afford to lose one of the two Islam-based parties in his coalition as that would pave the way for the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) — which as of Thursday afternoon had yet to decide whether they would back any presidential candidate — to form a third coalition.

A three-horse race would make it harder for Jokowi to win the election in a single round.

The Golkar Party may have also rejected Mahfud on the grounds that the former law and human rights minister during the Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid administration was the person who signed the controversial letter disbanding Golkar in 2001.

PPP chairman M. Romahurmuziy defended the Jokowi camp’s decision to pick Ma’ruf, saying that it was made to ease sectarian tensions that had been simmering since the 2014 presidential election and the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

“Political party leaders had spoken with Jokowi about looking for a figure who reflected religiosity and could curb hate speech on social media,” he said. “We also considered [Ma’ruf’s] experience in holding public office.”

Political analysts, however, have doubted the narrative.

Arya Fernandes of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Ma’ruf’s appointment was most likely made to prevent the PKB from leaving and forming a third coalition.

“The PKB stepping out of the coalition would also lead to the NU looking away from Jokowi,” he said.

He suggested that identity politics was a major factor in Ma’ruf’s appointment as Jokowi had long been dogged by allegations that he was not Muslim enough.

“I think the fear is rather excessive. The President has been attacked by [sectarian] issues since the 2014 presidential election. However, that did not affect his votes,” Arya said, adding that the President’s decision could backfire.

Hendri Satrio, a political observer from the Jakarta-based Paramadina University, concurred with Arya, saying that Jokowi was playing it safe by choosing Ma’ruf as his running mate, as Ma’ruf, who is unlikely to run for president in 2024, was more acceptable to the party chairs and could bring Muslim votes to Jokowi.

Ma’ruf is also respected among Islamist groups that spearheaded sectarian rallies against Jokowi’s ally, former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. As MUI chairman, Ma’ruf played a crucial role in bringing blasphemy charges against Ahok.

“[Jokowi] is no longer concentrating on gathering the votes of millennials, but instead focusing on gathering the votes of conservative [Muslims],” he added.

Meanwhile, the opposition coalition — the Gerindra Party, PAN and PKS — decided to pair Gerindra leader Prabowo Subianto and Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno without the support of the Democratic Party.

“This is not an easy process. This process is tiring. I have tried to build a big coalition,” Prabowo told reporters at his residence in South Jakarta 11:30 p.m.

“Sandiaga is the best choice there is. He has made a sacrifice. He is willing to resign from his position as deputy governor so that he can serve the nation and the state.”

Prabowo practically ignored the reccommendation made by the anti-Ahok Islamist groups that he pick celebrity preacher Abdul Somad as his running mate.

As of 10:30 p.m., the Democratic Party said it still rejected Sandiaga’s candidacy. The party is left with the option of joining either the Prabowo or Jokowi camp. The Election Law bans political parties from sitting out the presidential election.(nor/sau/ris)

— Karina Tehusijarana contributed to this article.

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