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Prabowo-Sandiaga signs pact with GNPF, promises to uphold religious values
Prabowo promises to guarantee the safe return of Rizieq Shihab and "protect" religious leaders.
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Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
P
residential candidate Prabowo Subianto signed on Sunday an "integrity pact" with ulemas and Muslim activists united under the National Movement to Safeguard the Ulema Fatwa (GNPF) with several promises including to uphold religious values, paying attention to "religious people's interests", protecting the nation's resources and guaranteeing the return of cleric Rizieq Shihab, who is out of the country right now.
"On behalf of the Prabowo-Sandiaga ticket, I thank the ulemas for their sincere trust and support," said Prabowo in a live video aired on the Facebook account of Zulkifli Hasan, the National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman, on Sunday afternoon.
In return, the GNPF vowed to support Prabowo and his running mate Sandiaga Uno.
Earlier GNPF representative Eggi Sudjana said the pair was set to sign an integrity pact in their effort to “protect” ulemas across the country during their second congregation, called Ijtima Ulama II, in Central Jakarta on Sunday.
“The highlight of the second congregation is the signing of the integrity pact,” Eggi said as quoted by tempo.co. He added that the current government under the leadership of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made no effort to protect Islam and ulemas.
For instant, Eggi said, the government had permitted the harassment of Neno Warisman. Neno, an opposition activist with the #2019ChangePresident campaign who is regarded as an ulema, has been banned from attending #2019ChangePresident events in several regions.
“Because the current government has failed to protect our religion and ulemas, we want the presidential candidates to commit to religion and ulema protection,” Eggi said.
Separately, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko suggested the ulema stay focused on “guiding the umma [believers]” instead of getting involved in politics. “[I am] worried about the umma, that they will get lost,” Moeldoko said, as quoted by tempo.co.
In the first ulemas’ meeting, the GNPF recommended names of potential vice-presidential candidates for Prabowo, none of whom were chosen. (vny)
