Ghina Ghaliya

Members of the 212 movement have expressed their disappointment over the reconciliation of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto over the weekend, saying that Prabowo seemed to be following in the steps of his "treacherous allies" to support the incumbent.

A spokesman for the 212 Alumni association, Novel Bamukmin, did not elaborate and name the person or persons to whom he was referring.

“We no longer communicate with either Prabowo or his former campaign team. Perhaps he has started to follow his allies who betrayed the Islamic society, especially the 212 Alumni,” he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. 

The group initiated the 212 rally in November 2016 to demand the imprisonment of former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy. It has since organized and carried out several events attended by a large number of Muslims to support the campaign of Prabowo. Some were attended by Prabowo himself.

“We will wait for the ulema and Islamic figures to recommend what we should do in this situation,” Novel said, adding the association might hold another ulema meeting to talk about recent developments.

Jokowi and Prabowo rode the MRT Jakarta line from Lebak Bulus to Senayan, South Jakarta, on Saturday, during which they had a private chat. The two continued their meeting at restaurant Sate Khas Senayan with National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Budi Gunawan, Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani and Jokowi’s former presidential campaign chairman, Erick Thohir.

Read also: Prabowo meets Jokowi at MRT station

Jokowi and Prabowo agreed there was still a possibility for Prabowo’s Gerindra Party to join the ruling coalition. With that, only the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) would remain in the opposition camp.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democratic Party have previously expressed an interest in joining the government.

PAN patron Amien Rais, however, said he was surprised to learn about the leaders’ meeting.

“I had no idea [about the meeting]. I wonder why [Prabowo] overstepped me,” the 75-year-old politician said in his residence in Yogyakarta as quoted by kompas.com. 

He vowed to meet with Prabowo soon to talk about the "reconciliation" between Prabowo and Jokowi.

Amien further said he would prefer to see Prabowo stay in the opposition camp.

“It will be an honor to oversee the government’s performance,” he said.

PKS chairman Sohibul Iman, meanwhile, said the meeting as a part of reconciliation efforts between two former contenders was normal.

“It is the right of every political figure [to meet and reconcile],” he said as quoted by tempo.co. (vny)