PKS insists on pairing Sohibul Iman as Anies' vice governor: This is self-respect

Duet AMAN, Anies Baswedan-Sohibul Iman in the 2024 Jakarta Pilkada. (Instagram @dpp_pks)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DKI Jakarta PKS Regional Leadership Council (DPW) Khoirudin revealed the reason his party firmly wanted to make Deputy Chairman of the PKS Syuro Council Sohibul Iman a candidate for deputy governor (cawagub) accompanying Anies Baswedan in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, currently no other political party has agreed that Anies will be paired with Sohibul Iman, including PKB and NasDem who will also carry Anies.

"We can't (carry for other cawagubs). This is self-respect. Our political symbol is in the governor or deputy governor. If there are neither, what will the world say?" Khoirudin told reporters, Thursday, August 8.

PKS is the party that won the 2024 DKI Jakarta DPRD Legislative Election with the highest number of elected candidates, namely 18 seats. To carry the Jakarta cagub-cawagub, at least 22 seats or 20 percent of the composition of the DKI Jakarta DPRD seats are needed.

So, if later the coalition is formed, Khoirudin views that PKS has the right to determine who Anies' companion in the coalition party will be.

"As our responsibility to the community, PKS won, at least the deputy governor. Mr. Anies did not have a PKS KTA. Yes, the deputy must be from PKS," explained Khoirudin.

Since the issuance of the recommendation, PKS has asked Anies to communicate with other political parties in establishing a coalition of parties.

Seeing the obstacles of attracting the position of cawagub so far, PKS also offered Anies to become a cadre of other political parties so that the coalition was formed with Sohibul Iman to continue to be promoted. This became a win-win solution for PKS.

Or, PKS also offered Anies to join his party. If Anies becomes a cadre, PKS will release the position of cawagub to other parties.

"The most likely thing is that Mr. Anies wears another party jacket so that there are two coalition parties, there are sufficient requirements to register. Or Mr. Anies just wears a PKS jacket, we take off his deputy," he added.