Zulhas Returned Early To Indonesia For A Meeting Of Leaders Of The Advanced Indonesia Coalition

PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan/DOK PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

Party officials from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) are scheduled to hold again in Jakarta, on Friday (20/10) night, after the General Chairperson of the PAN DPP Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) arrived in the country on the same day.

Zulkifli Hasan, who is the Minister of Trade, is currently accompanying President Joko Widodo to visit China and Saudi Arabia since Monday (16/10).

But he returned home earlier than the group scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday (21/10).

"It should have been met yesterday, it was like last night I went to Pak Prabowo and informed him that Mr. Sorry there should be an inter-ketum meeting (general chairman), but Pak Prabowo said I was waiting for the Ketum (PAN), namely Mr. Zulkifli Hasan. So, he was waiting for Mr. Zul (Zulkifli, ed)," said Chairman of the DPW PAN Jakarta Eko Hendro Purnomo also known as Eko Patrio when met at the meeting location of the Advanced Indonesian Coalition near Prabowo's residence, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 18.

He said that upon arrival in the country, Zulkifli Hasan's first agenda was to attend a meeting of the general chairmen of the party members of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition. Eko gave a signal that the meeting again discussed the name of the prospective vice presidential candidate who accompanied Prabowo Subianto.

"It seems that only one (discussing the vice president)," said Eko.

The PAN politician continued the possibility of the meeting taking place in the afternoon or at night.

Regarding the prospective vice presidential candidate (cawapres), PAN DPP Chair Zita Anjani said that her party only found out that there were two candidates who took care of the certificate that had never been convicted, namely BUMN Minister Erick Thohir and Bintang Crescent Party Chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra. The National Police also announced on Wednesday that they had issued a SKCK (police records) for Erick Thohir.

"There is already Mr. Erick, from PAN we still support Erick Thohir," said PAN DPP Chairman Zita Anjani.

As for the other candidates, he admitted that he did not know.

Chairman of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta last week (13/10) announced that candidates who have the opportunity to become vice presidential candidates will be reduced to four names. However, at that time, he was still reluctant to mention the four names.

"Regarding the vice president, we discussed it. Each party chairman expressed his views, which we finally tonight narrowed down to four names. Four names that I can convey, one candidate from outside Java, one from West Java, one from Central Java, one from East Java," Prabowo said last week.

Referring to the information provided by Prabowo, Yusril may be a candidate from outside Java, while Erick Thohir refers to a candidate from West Java considering that Erick's mother is from Majalengka.

For candidates from East Java, the Coordinator of the Democratic Party Spokesperson Herzaky Mahendra Putra said it referred to the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

"One of them is Mrs. Khofifah because she represents the leader of a woman, East Java, as well as NU, has the capacity to also be a minister, governor, and she is elected official. But whatever it is, we believe Mr. Prabowo will decide right and choose who is the best vice presidential candidate who can bring victory," said Herzaky when met outside the house which is the location of the elite meeting of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition party, near Prabowo's residence, Jakarta.

General Chairperson of Gerindra Prabowo Subianto is currently the only presidential candidate who has not announced his vice presidential candidate to the public. Two other presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan, have collaborated with PKB General Chair Muhaimin Iskandar as a vice presidential candidate, while Ganjar Pranowo is paired with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.

Prabowo is currently supported by Gerindra, Golkar, PAN, Crescent Star Party, Indonesian Gelora Party, Garuda Party, PRIMA, and the Democratic Party. The parties are members of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.