NasDem-PKS Agree To Carry Syaikhu-Ilham Habibie In The West Java Gubernatorial Election

West Java NasDem DPW Chairman Saan Mustopa/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) agreed to carry PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu and Ilham Akbar Habibie, son of the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia BJ Habibie, to run as a candidate for Governor-Deputy Governor of West Java (West Java).

This was revealed by the Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the West Java NasDem Party Saan Mustopa. Saan said NasDem was determined to form a coalition with PKS in West Java.

"Between Pak Syaikhu and Pak Ilham Habibie, hopefully there will be no sudden changes. But if NasDem has decided to form a coalition with PKS in West Java," said Saan at JCC, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, August 27.

Saan said that communication between NasDem and PKS had been established for a long time. Both Ilham and Syaikhu have often met to strengthen their candidacy in the West Java Pilkada.

"Hopefully there will be no extraordinary changes because it was only 75 percent last night that PKS-NasDem or Nasdem-PKS had finished sailing in West Java," said Saan.

It is planned that Syaikhu and Ilham will register as candidate pairs to the West Java General Election Commission (KPU) Office on Friday, August 29 or the last day of registration.

NasDem and PKS, continued Saan, still open opportunities for other political parties that have not determined who the candidates will be in the West Java gubernatorial election.

"For now, we are still together, but we are trying with other political parties that have not yet been determined in West Java," he added.

Saan admitted that his party is still optimistic that the Syaikhu-Ilham pair can compete with Dedi Mulyadi-Erwan Setiawan who has registered as the West Java cagub-cawagub for the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM).

Dedi and Erwan registered with the KPU today with the Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, Democrat Party, PAN, and PSI. Non-parlementary parties that also support are Hanura, Gelora, Garuda, PKN, Labor, Prima, Perindo, PBB, and the Ummat Party.