Mahfud Yakin PPP Bisa Kembali Berjaya Karena Punya Sejarah Panjang

JAKARTA - Candidate for vice president number 3 Mahfud Md believes that the United Development Party (PPP) can return to glory.

"I have just consolidated with PPP West Java as one of the parties carrying Ganjar-Mahfud. I am very confident that PPP can regain its glory," Mahfud said as quoted by Antara, Sunday.

He said PPP could return to being a big party because it has a long history, especially with regard to Islamic and Indonesian movements.

He explained that PPP inherited the long history of the struggle of Muslims that had not been cut off. For example, he said, starting from the first Islamic movement in the modern Indonesian era driven by Tjokroaminoto, the birth of Masyumi, until 1971 to become a Parmusi (Indonesian Muslim Party).

"Then Parmusi (party) NU (Nadhlatul Ulama), PERTI (Islamic Party of the Tarbiyah Islamiyah Association), PSII (Indonesian Islamic Society Party) joined as PPP in 1973. This is the legacy of Islamic nationalism in the early 20th century that must be maintained," Mahfud told PPP cadres at Pandan Wangi Restaurant, Bandung, West Java, Saturday (16/12).

Meanwhile, according to him, PPP is a fairly strong party in West Java. Therefore, he also believes that PPP can win the pockets of votes with full of idealism and honesty.

However, he continued to pump up the spirit of PPP cadres by telling the story of Islamic fighter Tariq bin Ziyad who with 7,000 soldiers could conquer 300,000 Roman soldiers in Andalusia. Thanks to the courage and spirit of Tariq, he continued, Islam has triumphed in Europe for 800 years.

"Follow the spirit of Thoriq bin Ziyad, only carrying 7,000 people but defeating hundreds of thousands of Roman soldiers. Thoriq is very patient, persistent and full of enthusiasm," he said.

"I believe the West Java PPP troops can become Thoriq bin Ziyad troops to sweep the pockets of votes, so that PPP can grow and be victorious again," continued Mahfud.

PPP is one of the parties supporting Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. In the 2019 election, PPP won 6.3 million votes or 4.52 percent of the votes were valid and obtained 19 seats in the DPR.

Elections for Legislative Members in 2024 were attended by 18 national political parties, namely (according to serial numbers) of the National Awakening Party, Gerindra Party, PDI-P, Golkar Party, NasDem Party, Labor Party, Indonesian Gelora Party, Prosperous Justice Party, Nusantara Awakening Party, Hanura Party, Garuda Party, National Mandate Party, Crescent Star Party, Democrat Party, Indonesian Solidarity Party, Perindo Party, United Development Party, and Ummat Party.

In addition, the 2024 Legislative Member Election was also attended by six local political parties, namely the Aceh Nanggroe Party, the Atjeh Beusaboh Tha'at and Taqwa Generation Party, the Aceh Darul Party, the Aceh Aceh Party, the Aceh Prosperous Justice Party, and the Acehnese People's Independent Solidity Party.

The 2024 Legislative Member Election will be held simultaneously with the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections on February 14, 2024.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has appointed three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates as participants in the 2024 presidential election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar with serial number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD number 3.

The KPU has also set a campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, while the voting schedule is on February 14, 2024.