Anies Baswedan Attends The PKS Presence This Sunday Morning: Bahas Cawapres With Ahmad Heryawan?

Anies Baswedan was present at the 20th Anniversary of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) at Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Senayan on May 29, 2022. (Between/Sigid Kurniawan)

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party (Readpres) presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, is scheduled to meet the Deputy Chair of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Syura Council Ahmad Heryawan or Aher, on Sunday, October 30, this morning. It is said that this meeting was to open communication to build a match between Anies and Aher.

However, this news was denied by the Chairman of the DKI Jakarta PKS DPW, Khoirudin. According to him, Anies-Aher's plan to meet was not to discuss the matter of vice president but to provide materials for providing social service provision. Moreover, Anies is the founder of Indonesia Teaching.

"No (discussing to the vice president, ed). If it is still in maturation. Pak Anies as a resource person, provides material," said Khoirudin, Sunday, October 30.

Khoirudin explained that Anies was invited by the Head of the Social Department of the PKS DPP, Netty Prasetiyani, who is also Aher's wife, to provide social service briefing to the public. The briefing is provided for all social welfare departments throughout Indonesia that are held in a hybrid manner.

"Because he is indeed a community activist who served social services, both before and when he was governor. And when he became governor, he wanted to create social justice," said the Deputy Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD.

On the other hand, Khoirudin emphasized that PKS is unanimous to support Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate in 2024 with NasDem and Democrats. It's just that, he said, DPW PKS DKI Jakarta will follow further directions from the PKS DPP.

Mr. Anies is a former governor of Jakarta and is worthy of getting DPP support. We only submitted his report to the DPP. The DPP certainly has its own argument to determine when is the right time to give support to Mr. Anies," said Khoirudin.

Regarding the problem of vice presidential candidates, Khoirudin said, so far maturation is still being discussed by potential coalition partners. Although there has been no decision, but according to him, all agreed to work together without prioritizing the will of each political party.

"What is clear is that the atmosphere of togetherness is more in front of us than egoism to propose certain candidates for each one. That's an agreement," said Khoirudin.

To note, the training event for PPKS advocacy volunteers (Social Welfare Service Officers) was attended by Anies Baswedan, Ahmad Heryawan, PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu, PKS DPP Head Netty Prawsetiyani, and Migrant Care founder Anis Hidayah. The event itself will be held from 08.00 to 12.00 WIB this afternoon.

Previously, Anies' plan to meet with Aher had been revealed by PKS Spokesperson Pipin Sopian to reporters, Thursday, October 27. However, Pipin admitted that he could not confirm when the meeting would be held.

"We have planned the meeting," said Pipin.

Allegedly, the arrangement for the meeting plan was because PKS did not want to lose to the Chairman of the Democrats Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) who visited Anies' residence some time ago.

Pipin also explained that Aher and Anies' meeting was to build a match or chemistry between the two. The meeting, he said, was only held for Aher and Anies without any members of the small NasDem, Democrat and PKS coalitions.

"To build chemistry. It's possible (with) Mas Anies," said Pipin.