Surya Paloh: In The Past NasDem Support Ahok Was Considered A Blasphemist, Now Choose Anies It's Called Kadrun

Anies Baswedan (Photo via Facebook)

Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh chose Anies Baswedan to become a presidential candidate (candidate) because he was considered the right person to strengthen national values.

"Now, I support Anies (because) at this time, (he) which I consider appropriate to strengthen national values," said Surya when delivering a speech at the national gathering with a number of doctorates and professors from various universities, at the NasDem Tower Ballroom, Jakarta, Saturday, October 22, quoted from Antara.

Surya Paloh was surprised by several parties who considered the NasDem Party as a "kadrun", namely the nickname for people who were considered narrow-minded, affected by the movement of extremism, and fundamentalism from the Middle East, even radically after carrying Anies as a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

The same thing, said Surya, occurred in the 2017 Pilkada. At that time, he conveyed that NasDem supported Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok as a candidate for governor of DKI Jakarta. However, due to this support, the NasDem Party was branded by various parties as a party for blasphemy.

"It's strange, Ahok's support is said to be blasphemy, now Anies' support is said to have just become Kadrun," said Surya.

His remarks were greeted with laughter from the parties who attended the national gathering. Previously, the NasDem Party DPP had officially declared and carried Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

This was conveyed directly by Surya Paloh at the NasDem Tower Ballroom on Monday, October 3, 2022. Anies, who was also present on the occasion, accepted the nomination.

"By asking for God's pleasure, by asking for His instructions, and all humility, bismillahirrahmanirrahim, we accept and prepare to answer the challenge," said Anies.