PKS Asks For Time To Respond To NasDem's Invitation To Carry Out Ilham Habibie In The West Java Gubernatorial Election

PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu when receiving a NasDem visit, Thursday 18 July 2024 (Diah Ayu/VOI)

PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu admitted that his party had not yet decided on its stance in carrying out the governor-deputy candidates in the West Java Pilkada, even though the NasDem Party had invited Ilham Akbar Habibie to participate.

Syaikhu admitted that the decision to support PKS in the West Java gubernatorial election was determined at the latest in August. This was revealed by Syaikhu after holding a meeting with the NasDem Party officials and Ilham, who are the son of the 3rd President BJ Habibie.

"We will make a deadline mutually agreed, whether until the end of July or early August. From there, we will be able to agree on who the formulation will be submitted from PKS and from NasDem," said Syaikhu at the NasDem DPP Office, South Jakarta, Thursday, July 18.

Syaikhu admitted that PKS had the same agreement as Ilham Habibie's vision and mission to advance in the West Java Pilgub, one of which wanted to develop human resources (HR) towards Indonesia Gold 2045.

"This is very interesting, especially I think he, in this case we do know from his story Habibie, this is what is really very expert in human resources. So, this is very necessary to immediately become national figures, continuing Habibie's leadership," said Syaikhu.

However, Syaikhu admitted that his party still needed to detail the coalition agreement with NasDem in the West Java Pilkada. The reason PKS has not officially stated its support for Ilham in the West Java province 2024 gubernatorial election is because PKS wants a common political direction in regional elections in West Java and DKI Jakarta.

"West Java will be closely related to its relationship with DKI. Therefore, it is also decided that West Java may also be related to deciding on matters in DKI. Once again, we will explore this further in future discussions," explained Syaikhu.

Previously, the Secretary General of the NasDem Party, Hermawi Taslim, admitted that his party needed other political parties to form a coalition in the West Java gubernatorial election this year. So, NasDem invited PKS who had 19 seats in the West Java DPRD legislative election to participate in carrying Ilham. Moreover, Hermawi views that PKS is suitable to return to a coalition with NasDem like the 2024 presidential election.

"Our arrival here is to stay in touch, complement each other. PKS even though there are so many seats in West Java, it's still not enough. Moreover, NasDem is only 8. So, if we can repeat the success story of the coalition 01, why not?" said Hermawi at the same location.

According to Hermawi, West Java is one of the strategic provinces for political parties to carry out its governor-deputy candidates. Hermawi hopes that PKS can immediately state its approval to form a coalition in the West Java gubernatorial election.

"We have to be compatible in West Java. PKS with so many chairs is not enough alone, let alone NasDem. So we will continue to build this togetherness until we have a mutual agreement," he added.