REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno stated his visit to the house of the late Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) was not intended to persuade daughter of Indonesian fourth president, Yenny Wahid to join his campaign team. He asserted it was meant to bond ties to the national figure's family.

Sandiaga did convey the invitation to Yenny. He assessed Yenny is the right figure to be in his team and she would have a great role if she chose to accept the offer.

However, Sandiaga understood Yenny's position as Gus Dur's family member. He did not wish to give Yenny such a burden.

"I am not in the position to invite (Yenny Wahid)," Sandiaga said after visiting Gus Dur's house at Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Monday (Sept 10).

According to him, Yenny as part of Gus Dur's family, is one of figures who score fighters for diversity and tolerance. He believed Yenny was needed to care for diversity.

Sandiaga said national figures are needed to guard a peaceful and harmonious presidential election 2019. "I don't want any drag. Mr Prabowo Subianto says that we do not want any 'transfer of player' as in soccer," he said.

Yenny claimed Sandiaga has proposed her to join the opposition camp's campaign team, but not as the chief. He said Sandiaga stated the offer during his visit to her mother's house.

"It was a just visit, but he invites me to join his campaign team," Yenny said.

According to Yenny, incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) also has invited her to join the government's camp campaign team. Jokowi paid a visit to Yenny's mother house on last Friday (Sept 7).

Vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno (second left) talks with former first lady Shinta Nuriyah Wahid (right) and her daughter Yenny Wahid (left) during his visit to her house in Ciganjur, Jakarta, Monday (Sept 10).

However, Yenny was still undecided. She said in a near future, presidential candidate of the oppossition camp Prabowo Subianto would also came. She respected communication process by all parties.

"Mr Jokowi has visited us on Friday. Mr Sandiaga today, tomorrow mr Prabowo. But, we'll see. Nahdlatul Ulama followers always made up their mind through istikarah prayers," she said.

Yenny also said she needed permission from her mother, Shinta Nuriyah Wahid. She explained that her mother has always been neutral.

"I might not get permission to support any of them," she said.

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