Prabowo's Early Story Of Being A Soldier, 18 Year Old Ordered To Sign Sign Ready To Die Defending The People

Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto gave a speech in front of the students, during a visit to Ponpes Zainul Hasan Genggong Probolinggo, East Java, Tuesday (2/1/2024). BETWEEN/HO-TKD East Java

SURABAYA - Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto shared the story of his closeness to the ulama and kiai since he was a soldier of the Indonesian Army, during a visit at the Zainul Hasan Ganggong Probolinggo Islamic Boarding School, East Java.

"I have always been very close to the kiai of the scholars," Prabowo said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 2.

Prabowo stated that his close relationship with the kiai and ulama was when he first became a TNI soldier, then asked to sign a statement "ready to die" in order to defend the community and the integrity of the country. In fact, at that time he was also not 20 years old.

"This means that we must be ready to die, imagine that 18 years old have been told to sign the signature ready to die to defend the people, defend our beloved country and nation, and protect all wealth belonging to the Indonesian people," he said.

The presidential candidate who was promoted by the Forward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) often asked his superiors for permission to seek blessing and ask for prayers from kiai and ulama.

"I often ask my commander for permission to meet the kiai, ask for prayers," he said.

Prabowo said that as a military soldier, it is appropriate not to be far away or to close himself up in close relations with kiai and ulama.

"As long as the TNI and Polri are close to scholars, kiai, and Islamic boarding schools, God willing, the country will be strong," he said.

It is known that the visit to the Zainul Hasan Ganggong Probolinggo Islamic Boarding School, East Java, was the first for Prabowo to come accompanied by the Chairman of the East Java Regional Campaign Team (TKD) Boedi Prijosoeprajitno and the head of Gerindra local province Anwar Sadad.

Prabowo Subianto's group was warmly welcomed by the Caretaker of the Zainul Hasan Ganggong Islamic Boarding School, Moh Hasan Mutawakkil Alallah, who is also the Chairman of the East Java MUI, Deputy Rais Aam, the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Anwar Iskandar who is also the General Chair of the MUI, Gus Moh Haris Damanhuri, and the extended family of Islamic boarding schools.

Apart from sowan, Prabowo came and attended the 23rd Haul of the late Al Maghfurlah KH. M. Damanhuri Romly bin Hadratussyaikh KH. Romli Tamim, at the P5 Ponpes Tanggong Courtyard.

The Ganggong Islamic Boarding School has pinned Prabowo as a big family of Indonesian students.