Standing out from a crowd of people who were mostly wearing white, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan took center stage while wearing his khaki-colored civil servant uniform during the “reunion” of hardline Muslims that call themselves “212 alumni” on Monday.

At the event, held at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta, Anies seemed to be presenting himself as the new hope of the 212 movement after Prabowo Subianto, a 2014 and 2019 presidential candidate, joined President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Cabinet as defense minister.

Tens of thousands of 212 alumni attended the rally, held annually to mark a 2016 protest on Dec. 2 that called for the prosecution of then-Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy.

People crowded both in and outside the square.

“We welcome you with open arms and happiness,” Anies said.

During his speech, he pointed out the importance of realizing unity and fairness to support the country's rich diversity.

"There cannot be unity in injustice, [...] so our responsibility is to offer justice to all Indonesian people,” Anies said. “This is what has become our focus in Jakarta; not only to build physical infrastructure but to ensure social justice for Jakartans."

Participants responded jubilantly, with many chanting “governor of Indonesia” while he was on stage.

“Anies Baswedan is our president! The president of Indonesia!” some people in the crowd yelled.

Gerindra Party deputy chairman Fadli Zon, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) executive Mardani Ali Sera and People’s Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid were also seen at the venue.

Anies, however, claimed his presence was only to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, which fell on Nov. 9 this year, and that as the governor, he wanted to ensure that Monas was for “everyone”.

In his speech, Anies initially said that “hundreds of thousands” had come to the rally, which began with a mass prayer at 3 a.m. and concluded after 8:30 a.m.

However, someone near him said there were millions of people in the square.

The number of people who attended the original 212 rally and the subsequent “reunions” has always been a hot debate. Supporters have claimed that the 2016 event attracted between 5 million and 7 million people.

Aside from speeches and sermons, participants prayed for the return of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, who went to Saudi Arabia in 2017 for umrah (minor haj) while he was being investigated for his alleged role in a pornography case and insulting Pancasila. He has yet to return to Indonesia.

The cleric had claimed he was unable to return home because the government had banned him, which the government has denied.

Attendants of the so-called reunion also prayed for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin so they would always be fair, honest and trustworthy in carrying out their duties.

Last year, Prabowo Subianto, now defense minister, gave a speech at the rally as part of his presidential campaign. Officials from political parties supporting Prabowo and his then-running mate Sandiaga Uno stood alongside him on the stage, as did Anies, who beat Ahok in the 2017 gubernatorial election — which has been described as the country’s most divisive election due to politicization of religious and racial identity.

During last year’s rally, the event’s committee played a recording of a speech by Rizieq, who called on his supporters not to vote for presidential and legislative candidates backed by parties supporting “the blasphemer”. Ahok was Jokowi’s deputy governor and their relationship has been portrayed as supportive.

Sirojudin Abbas, program director for Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), said Anies had long been linked to the 212 rally as the group's main goal had been to ensure Ahok’s defeat.

As reunion participants came from various Islamic groups across the country, maintaining a good relationship with them would be politically beneficial for Anies, he added.

Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University political analyst Adi Prayitno expressed a similar opinion, saying that aside from Anies' status as Jakarta governor, his presence at the rally was a way to stay on good terms with the 212 alumni as they had contributed to his gubernatorial win. (hpw/ydp)

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