Not Yet Thinking About The Presidential Election, Minister Of Religion Yaqut: I'm Just Looking Forward To President Jokowi

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. (doc. Ministry of Religion)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas emphasized that he did not have the desire to run in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) contestation. "Until now what is in my mind is how to carry out the mandate given by President Jokowi as Minister of Religion as well as possible. As an assistant to him, I am only perpendicular to President Jokowi. I have never thought about the vice president or other political targets," he said in a written statement, Thursday, April 27, which was confiscated by Antara. Previously, the Young Generation of Indonesian Development (GMPI) assessed that the figure of Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had a great opportunity to become a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) accompanying Ganjar Pranowo.

Yaqut stated that as a form of his commitment to totality in helping President Jokowi until the end of his term of office, he did not even register as a legislative candidate in the 2024 Legislative Election. He admitted that it was not easy to make such a decision. However, because he intended to serve the country wholeheartedly, he considered this choice as the best option. "I just want to focus and not be divided. From the start, when I was given this mandate by President Jokowi in December 2020, I personally promised to carry out the totality of carrying out the duties of the President as Minister of Religion until the end," said the man who also serves as the General Chairperson of the Center for the Ansor Youth Movement.

Di sisi lain, Yaqut optimistis Pilpres 2024 berlangsung lebih demokratis. Hal ini disebabkan masyarakat Indonesia sudah semakin dewasa dalam melihat perbedaan pandangan dan pilihan dalam perpolitikan.

He also hopes that the use of religious identity for practical political interests can be prevented. "There is a more important and broad interest in this nation to continue to fight for together, namely the realization of national unity and a more prosperous society. So, it's a shame if this solid network is injured by short-term political interests," he said.