Ahok-Anies Shows Off Collaboration When Gathering At City Hall, Signals Duet In The 2029 Presidential Election?

Rows of former DKI Jakarta Governors, including Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok who sat next to Anies Baswedan. (Diah-VOI)

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga responded to the moment of familiarity between two former DKI Jakarta Governors Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Anies Baswedan when they gathered at the DKI Jakarta City Hall on December 31, 2024.

According to Jamiluddin, it is possible that Ahok and Anies' "intimacy" opens up opportunities for a duet in the upcoming 2029 presidential election.

"It is possible that the two figures will be paired in the 2029 presidential election," Jamiluddin told reporters, Thursday, January 2.

While attending the Bangtang Harapan JakASA event held by the DKI Provincial Government, Ahok and Anies revealed that there would be surprises that would be revealed in early 2025. It could be that Ahok and Anies will hold a joint political speech to respond to current developing state problems.

"It could be related to the Pilkada through the DPRD, returning to the 1945 Constitution, 12 percent VAT, eradicating KKN, and handling human rights violations. These issues could be the main topic if Anies and Ahok had a joint political speech," explained Jamiluddin.

If this happens, the PDIP, represented by Ahok and Anies, will take a stand as an opposition figure for the non-parliamentary government. Bearing in mind, until now the party led by Megawati Soekarnoputri has not announced its political direction in the Prabowo Subianto government.

"If Anies and Ahok can position them as symbols of non-parliamentary opposition, then control of the government will be more meaningful. In fact, they may take the role of the opposition in preparation for the 2029 presidential election. It is possible that the two figures will be paired in the 2029 presidential election," he explained.

On the sidelines of a series of New Year celebrations at DKI Jakarta City Hall a few days ago, Anies and Ahok seemed to be sitting next to each other and chatting familiarly. Every now and then, former Governor of DKI Djarot Saiful Hidayat also chatted.

When asked what was the content of the conversation, Ahok was reluctant to answer. The former President Commissioner of Pertamina even threw it at Anies. "I have to ask Mr. Anies, please," said Ahok at DKI City Hall, Tuesday, December 31.

Ahok said he would dismantle the contents of his chat with Anies next month. Meanwhile, Anies only agreed to Ahok's statement.

"Wait. Wait for the game date. Later. It's been said to Wait. If you wait, you have to wait for us," said Anies.

In addition, Djarot Saiful Hidayat revealed that there would be a surprise related to Anies. "There will be a surprise next year. There must be a surprise," said Djarot.

In this activity, the figures wrote their respective hopes of using a marker that was put on a cloth. Starting from the former Governor of DKI Sutiyoso, Fauzi Bowo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Djarot Saiful Hidayat, to Anies Baswedan.

Then, former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria, Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta 2016-2017 Soni Sumarsono, to Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar.

Not only that, the pair of candidates for the Governor of DKI Jakarta to be elected in the 2024 Pilkada, Pramono Anung and Rano Karno also wrote down their hopes. Then, Suswono and Kun Wardana, the deputy governor candidates for the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

The total length of the cloth prepared by the DKI Provincial Government as a container for the writing of hope is 500 meters long. The cloth with the hope will be spread out in 2027.