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Nusron will not boost Muslim votes for Ahok, analysts say
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Golkar politician Nusron Wahid (right) speaks to Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama at City Hall on March 3. Nusron was appointed by Ahok as his campaign manager prior to the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (kompas.com/Alsadad Rudi)
T
he appointment of Nusron Wahid, a representative of the country’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), as the campaign manager for Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s re-election bid, will not significantly sway Muslim voters to vote for Ahok, analysts have said.
“Jakarta voters don’t care what religion Ahok is,” said Indonesia of Indonesia political analyst Hamdi Muluk told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, adding that voters’ preference for a candidate was based on performance and platform.
Nusron, a Golkar Party politician and former chairman of NU’s youth movement, GP Ansor, has been appointed by Ahok to coordinate the campaign team, the members of which are representatives of three political parties – Golkar, Hanura and NasDem parties – and Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), a group that supports the incumbent.
Meanwhile, Indikator Politik Indonesia (IPI) political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi said the impact of Nusron’s appointment on Muslim voters could not easily be measured without a survey.
He said Nusron would not be able to influence ultraconservative Muslims such as members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Indonesian Islamic Forum (FUI) to vote for Ahok because Nusron often took different stances from these groups.
“Nusron often criticizes the groups. Therefore, his appointment as Ahok’s campaign manager is unlikely to change their sentiment toward Ahok,” Burhanuddin added. (rez/bbn)
