PKB Responds To Gus Yusuf's Speech About Jokowi's Political Cawes Asking To Support Prabowo-Erick Thohir

Deputy Chairperson of PKB Jazilul Fawaid. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of PKB Jazilul Fawaid responded to the circulation of a video of the Chairman of the Central Java PKB DPW, Kiai Muhammad Yusuf Chudlori or Gus Yusuf revealing that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had asked the General Chairperson of Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) to support Prabowo Subianto-Erick Thohir as a presidential and vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

Jazilul admitted that he did not know about Gus Yusuf's words about President Jokowi's political problems.

However, he said, what Gus Yusuf said had become a common secret.

"I don't know exactly, what I know is that Gus Yusuf is a pious and honest person. It's hard for Gus Yusuf to lie about making up fake stories," said Jazilul, Saturday, September 16. It is known that PKB initially supported the presidential election of Gerindra Prabowo Subianto. PKB began to stay away from Prabowo after a five-ketum political party meeting with Jokowi regarding the discourse of a major coalition. The party chaired by Cak Imin became even more attractive when Golkar and PAN joined the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR) which was later changed by the name of the Advanced Indonesian Coalition. Shortly after the event, PKB even closed to the NasDem Party and declared Cak Imin as a candidate for Anies Baswedan. Regarding the attitude of PKB which no longer supported Prabowo because it rejected Jokowi's request, Jazilul was reluctant to comment much. According to him, PKB respects all political party decisions. "PKB respects everything," said Jazilul. It is known that the issue of Jokowi's president's cawe-cawe to support the Prabowo-Erick pair was revealed through a video of the Chairman of the Central Java PKB DPW, KH Muhammad Yusuf Chudlori or Gus Yusuf. In the video, Gus Yusuf said that Jokowi had asked PKB to support the Prabowo-Erick pair.

The statement was made at the 25th PKB in Solo, Central Java, Sunday, July 23, which was also attended by the president.

Gus Yusuf admitted that Cak Imin had looked at him to give an answer to President Jokowi. Gus Yusuf said that his party objected because neither Prabowo nor Erick had a direct relationship with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

"I'm sorry, sir, if PKB is asked to support Prabowo-Erick, to be honest we object. Both of them have no NU slices," said Gus Yusuf in the video.

Gus Yusuf said, PKB firmly refused to support Prabowo-Erick. "Kiai are under confusion, how is the campaign? I said it was open at that time. The point is we refuse," he said.