JAKARTA – Chairman of the Central Board of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Ahmad Iman Sukri, stated that his party is seriously discussing the recommendation from the Jakarta DPW PKB to nominate Anies Baswedan as a gubernatorial candidate in the 2024 regional elections. This matter will be discussed earnestly.

“We at the DPP PKB are seriously discussing the recommendation from the Jakarta DPW PKB, which proposes Anies to run in the Jakarta regional elections at the end of this year. Let's wait for the final results, and we continue to accommodate and discuss this seriously. This recommendation is not something trivial,” said Iman in an interview in Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, June 13, 2024.

Iman mentioned that his party is well aware that the recommendation is based on a thorough study of the realities among Jakarta residents. The Jakarta DPW administrators must have gathered existing facts and realities. They have certainly discussed various possibilities for the regional elections.

“From the information I have received from party administrators and cadres in Jakarta, they state that the support for Anies in terms of popularity and electability among residents is very high. The effect of the 2024 presidential election results is still very palpable among residents. Anies remains an unmatched figure in Jakarta at this time,” he said.

On the other hand, thanks to Anies's influence in the presidential election last February, the number of seats in the Jakarta DPRD increased drastically. The increase even reached 100 percent. The seats for the Jakarta PKB DPRD, which in the 2019-2024 period were only 5 seats, thanks to the presidential and legislative election results in 2024, now reach 10 seats. “All of this is clear, besides the hard work of the PKB cadres, it is also the impact of the ‘coat-tail effect’ of Anies Baswedan, who ran with Muhaimin Iskandar in the last presidential election.”

Regarding whether PKB will nominate a vice governor candidate to pair with Anies in the 2024 regional elections, Iman said it is possible. As a party, they certainly want to propose one of their cadres to participate in the election contest.

“We also have leadership candidates for Jakarta, such as the Chairperson of the Jakarta DPD PKB, Mrs. Ida Fauziah, or other cadres. We also hope for that. Well, we will monitor and discuss all of this until the official nomination by the DPP PKB. There is still enough time until the third week of August 2024. However, whatever it is, the recommendation from our party colleagues at the Jakarta DPD is very important. And once again, it is not a trivial recommendation,” said Iman.

Improving Jakarta

Chairman of DPW PKB Jakarta, Hasbiallah Ilyas, explained why PKB supports Anies Baswedan as the Governor of Jakarta for 2024-2029. According to Hasbiallah, Anies Baswedan is much needed by the people of Jakarta.

“Jakarta needs him (Anies Baswedan),” said Hasbiallah at the Jakarta DPW PKB office, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, Thursday, June 13, 2024.

“Why does PKB support Mr. Anies? Because PKB believes that Anies represents PKB, and vice versa. Secondly, Jakarta needs him,” he continued.

He recounted that in the two years since Anies Baswedan left Jakarta, the city's condition has become chaotic. Moreover, many residents have complained since Anies Baswedan left.

“Look at Jakarta today, excuse me, after Mr. Anies left two years ago. There have been many complaints,” he added.

Hasbiallah then asked all party cadres from DPC, PAC, branches, RT, and RW to immediately go to the field and take concrete actions to introduce Anies as the candidate for Governor of DKI Jakarta and as a protector of the oppressed.

“Mr. Anies cares about the weak and the oppressed. So, starting today, everyone should go down to the ground and explain to the public that Mr. Anies has been nominated by PKB to be the Governor,” he concluded.

Welcomed with Shalawat Badar

When Anies Baswedan visited the Jakarta DPW PKB office in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, wearing a long-sleeved batik shirt in a combination of brown and green and a black cap, he arrived at 12:55 PM. His arrival was immediately greeted by the Chairperson of DPW PKB Jakarta, Hasbiallah Ilyas, and his staff.

Upon Anies Baswedan's arrival, PKB Jakarta cadres and Anies's supporters who had been waiting for the former Jakarta Governor immediately approached him.

When greeted by the media and his supporters, Anies smiled and waved.

Hasbiallah then invited Anies to enter the room to relax for a moment.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the main courtyard was filled with Anies's supporters and PKB sympathizers. After that, the event host invited the sympathizers to welcome Anies Baswedan to the main stage.

“Let's welcome our gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Anies Baswedan, with Shalawat Badar,” called the event host at PKB.

After the former Rector of Paramadina University entered the event area, sympathizers and supporters greeted the gubernatorial candidate endorsed by DPW PKB Jakarta.

Residents from North Jakarta were seen carrying posters expressing their desire for the former presidential candidate number 01 to lead Jakarta again. Additionally, there were small posters with Anies's image and the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) in the background.

“We, the residents of North Jakarta, call for Mr. Anies Baswedan to lead DKI Jakarta again. Progress for the city, happiness for its residents. It has been proven,” the poster read.

Previously, it was reported that the Jakarta DPW PKB had officially declared its support for Anies Baswedan to run as a gubernatorial candidate in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Chairman of DPW PKB DKI Jakarta, Hasbiallah Ilyas, announced that Anies Baswedan would visit the DPW DKI office tomorrow to meet with DPW PKB administrators.

“Mr. Anies, God willing, will come tomorrow at 1:00 PM,” said Hasbiallah to the media at the DPP PKB office, Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

He admitted that he had already communicated with Anies Baswedan. The former Governor of DKI Jakarta, said Hasbiallah, was out of town for an unavoidable commitment, but had scheduled his visit to the DPW PKB.

“Today, he contacted me this morning; he is out of town for something he can't leave,” he said.

He stated that the visit was to receive the recommendation letter from the DPW PKB. Then, Ilyas asked Anies to immediately socialize himself to the people of DKI.

“So that all the people know that the former Governor of DKI Jakarta will run again in the DKI regional elections with PKB's support,” he explained.