Responses To The Joint Coalition Of NasDem And Distributing Cak Imin Canawapres Anies, PKB: Not Yet Thought

Deputy Secretary General (Wasekjen) of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Syaiful Huda/Nailin-VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General (Wasekjen) of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Syaiful Huda, responded to reports of his party opening up coalition opportunities with the NasDem Party. Huda emphasized that his party had not been involved in communication with NasDem regarding the coalition ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In fact, according to him, it was also not thought of presenting PKB General Chair Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin as Anies Baswedan vice presidential candidate. "Not yet, there has been no chat at all (with NasDem, ed). I don't think about it, I haven't thought about it at all," Huda said when met at the Cipta Pancoran Hotel, South Jakarta, Friday, December 23. Huda emphasized that currently PKB is still strengthening its coalition relationship with Gerindra. He said the Gerindra-PKB Secretary's office was almost complete and ready to be launched after the new year. "The Secretary has met his office, he just needs to be pressed and painted. He was given the signing of 'PKB Gerindra Secretary', I see. It will only be inaugurated later," said Huda. Although there has not been a deal regarding the presidential election with Gerindra, the chairman of Commission X of the DPR emphasized that PKB is still committed to collaborating with Gerindra. "Of course there must be calculations, yes, PKB is one that adheres to political fatsun. Political fatsun is one of them, right, configurationally PKB is under the Gerindra of its voice and seats, but until now it has not broken. We still have a strong mandatory through the congress to nominate Gus Muhaimin as a presidential candidate, Gerindra's friends are the same," he explained. Nevertheless, Huda said, PKB would try to position Cak Imin at least in the position of vice presidential candidate. It's just that regarding the vice presidential candidate Anies and moving towards a coalition with NasDem, he was reluctant to agree. "Yes, until we look for the Imin cak coalition to become presidential candidates, or vice presidential candidates," he concluded. Previously, Deputy Chairperson of the PKB DPP Election Winning Division, Jazilul Fawaid, taught his party to open the possibility of forming a coalition with the NasDem Party. The reason is, PKB has a longer 'pair' experience in the government coalition with NasDem than with Gerindra. "Yes, it is possible. If a coalition friend within the Jokowi-Ma'ruf government, NasDem and PKB have been in coalition longer than Gerindra," Jazilul told reporters, quoted on Friday, December 23. According to Jazilul, the NasDem Party which has declared Anies Baswedan needs coalition partners to be able to carry his presidential candidate forward in the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, until now there has been no vice presidential candidate accompanying Anies. "You can't say that Anies ran alone without a vice president. Even though there are 20 percent of the party, there is no vice president, that's not allowed because those registered with the KPU are pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, not just the president," said Jazilul. The Deputy Chairperson of the MPR did not deny that the General Chairperson of the PKB, Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin, would be presented as Anies vice presidential candidate. "There is no reason to close yourself as long as everything is calculated objectively rationally and proportionally for victory," said Jazilul. It's just that, added Jazilul, the possibility of a coalition with NasDem and carrying out Anies' presidential candidate will certainly be discussed first, both internally with PKB and with Gerindra. Because as is known, currently PKB has collaborated with the party chaired by Prabowo Subianto. Although, PKB and Gerindra, who are under the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition, have not yet decided who the presidential and vice presidential candidates are. So far, both parties want the general chairman to run as a presidential candidate. "This possibility can be compromised. If we look now our coalition with Gerindra. Gerindra also has a presidential candidate, so in the coalition we just have to sit together to discuss it," said Jazilul.