Prabowo Tells The Story Of His Closeness To Muhammadiyah

Presidential Candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto during Muhammadiyah Open Dialogue at Muhammadiyah University Surabaya, Friday (12/24/11/2023). (ANTARA/Willi Irawan)

SURABAYA - Presidential Candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto revealed the reason why Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka could not attend the Muhammadiyah Open Dialogue event at Muhammadiyah University Surabaya.

"Mas Gibran has other events at the same time in East Java but the one holding Nahdlatul Ulama. So this event NU and Muhammadiyah are already solid, a steady country," said the man who is also the Minister of Defense, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, November 24.

The general chairman of the Gerindra Party apologized because his deputy Gibran Rakabuming was unable to attend the dialogue. However, he confirmed that if at other times Muhammadiyah wanted to have a dialogue, Gibran would be willing.

On that occasion, Prabowo said he was comfortable with Muhammadiyah's extended family because many of them came from one of the largest community organizations.

"In a day's environment, I have many Muhammadiyah people. My spokesman is the former Chairman of Muhammadiyah Youth Danhil Anzar Simanjuntak. King Juli Antoni is the former General Chair of the Muhammadiyah Student Association and there is Mr. Zulkifli Hasan, the General Chair of PAN," he said.

Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Prof. Haedar Nashir said that this public dialogue is expected to open a meaningful communication space as well as discussion on how to bring Indonesia for the next five years by presidential and vice-presidential candidates who will contest the 2024 General Election.

"Anyone who has the mandate of the people and has a non-light mandate is to lead 271 million Indonesians," he said.

Muhammadiyah is of the view that election contestation is not just a vehicle to contest the hearts of the people and then occupy government positions.

"But how does the position in this government carry a mandate that is the most important thing," he said.