REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice chairman of national campaign team (TKN) for the incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-KH Ma'ruf Amin, Abdul Kadir Karding said the identity politics was already obsolete ahead of presidential election 2019. Moreover, Jokowi has a senior cleric as his running mate.
Based on the survey, Karding admitted there were some concerns over the use of identity politics. "Jokowi used to be associated to Indonesia Communist Party (PKI), anti-Islamic," Karding said at Cemara Post, Menteng, Central Jakarta on Thursday (August 23).
However, he believed the loophole has been closed since Kiai Ma'ruf selected as Jokowi's vice presidential candidate. Jokowi also has visited many Islamic boarding schools and the public seemed to know him as a devout Muslim.
"Probably, if there is an identity politics, people may not buy it," Karding said.
Incumbent President Joko Widodo and his running mate KH. Ma'ruf Amin wave to the reporters before following medical check up at Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Jakarta, Sunday (August 12).
Karding explained the vote for Jokowi was sagged in 10 provinces at presidential election 2014 because of the use of identity politics. He observed the condition has changed in those 10 provinces, including in West Java, Banten, South Kalimantan, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sumatra.
Based on General Election Commission data, Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla outperformed by Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa in presidential election 2014. Jokowi-Kalla got less vote in Aceh, West Sumatra, Riau, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, Banten, West Nusa Tenggara, South Kalimantan, Gorontalo, and North Maluku.
"We are optimistic, with the lack of identity politics and realization of Jokowi's prograam in the regions, we will not lose again," he said.
Previously, Jokowi said he decided to appoint Kiai Ma'ruf who is also the chairman of Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) after hearing advises from all elements of the society. He explained that his supporting parties have agreed to carry Kiai Ma'ruf as Jokowi's running mate.
According to Jokowi, he chose Kiai Ma'ruf to complete each other. He assessed Kiai Ma'ruf with his track record was an ideal figure to be his running mate.
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