National Figure, PKS Fair Value Mahfud MD Chosen To Be Ganjar's Vice Presidential Candidate

Head of the PKS DPP Polhukam Division, Al Muzammil YusufDOK PHOTO via pks.id

JAKARTA - The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) considers it reasonable for the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Political Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD to be chosen by PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri to be a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) accompanying Ganjar Pranowo. PKS DPP chairman Al Muzammil Yusuf said Mahfud's figure was very well known to the public. His party also respects the PDIP's decision and the Ganjar supporters's political party who chose the former chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK) to join the fight in the 2024 presidential election. "It is very natural for the choice to Prof Mahfud. Because Prof Mahfud is a very well known figure for the Indonesian public. We really respect and appreciate this choice," said Al Muzammil Yusuf to reporters, Wednesday, October 18. Al Muzammil also congratulated Mahfud and invited him to compete healthily against the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair who were promoted by PKS together with NasDem and PKB in the Change Coalition.

"Congratulations to fight for Prof Mahfud. We are competing and competing with the spirit of Bhineka Tunggal Ika for the good of the nation," said Al Muzammil. Previously, PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri revealed the reason for choosing Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD as vice presidential candidate from Ganjar Pranowo. Megawati called Mahfud's figure as a defender and defender of the small people.

"He is an intellectual person who is qualified, because his knowledge in legal matters is very full of experience and knowledge. The figure with complete experience in legislative, executive and judicial institutions," Megawati said during a declaration at the Jakarta PDIP DPP office, Wednesday, October 18.

"Prof Mahfud is known by the people as a soldier of the law and defender of wong cilik. I told him, this is the law, don't keep everything silent. Why is there a rule of law if everyone is silent, let's say it, sir," said Megawati.

Megawati also revealed her closeness to Mahfud MD, when the two were still together at the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP). After Mahfud entered the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet of the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin government, Mahfud as the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs was also considered to have carried out his duties well.

"He can be a good referee in the midst of political and business competition that is often felt unfair. He is the figure we assigned to reform the national legal system, in order to appear the face of true justice," said Megawati.