REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan claimed he knew exactly the truth about the plan to make his deputy Sandiaga Uno as vice presidential candidate from the opposition camp. However, he preferred to keep the information to himself.
“If I am asked, do I know about it, I know it exactly,” said Anies at the City Hall, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (Aug 8).
According to Anies, Gerindra Party and its support parties were still in the process of determining the pair of presidential and vice presidential candidate. Therefore, he did not want to overtake their statement.
“Later I’ll tell because now everything is still on the process and I don’t want to comment until all process is finished,” Anies added.
Anies admitted that he had received many offers to be presidential or vice presidential candidate, including to be Prabowo’s running mate in 2019 presidential election. However, he wanted to concentrate on taking care of Jakarta.
“I always say, I have a duty in Jakarta,” Anies said.
Earlier, Gerindra Party deputy secretary general Andre Rosiade said the opposition camp was still discussing the possibility to pair Prabowo with one of two vice presidential candidates in 2019 presidential election. He denied the accusation coming from Democratic Party's elite, Andi Arief, related to transactional politics.
"Frankly, the discussion was still focused on two names, namely Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) and Sandiaga Uno," Andre said.
The opposition camp held a meeting at Prabowo's house at Kertanegara street, South Jakarta on Wednesday night. Chairman of the PAN Honorary Board Amien Rais, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Gerindra Party Sandiaga Uno, and former campaign manager of AHY, Wisnu Wardhana attended the meeting.
AHY's and Sandiaga's names were mentioned in the discussion, Andre said. He asked all parties to be patient in waiting decision of parties leader in the opposition camp.
He asserted Gerindra Party did not involved in transactional politics to enable Sandi to run as vice presidential candidate. Andre said it was not true that Sandiaga gave Rp 500 billion to PKS and PAN.
Andre deplored Andi's accusation against Gerindra, PKS and PAN. Moreover, Andi has insulted Prabowo as presidential candidate who was carried by the coalition to challenge the incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
He called on all parties to refrain from making statements as the Prabowo's coalition were still discussing vice presidential candidate. Andre asked all parties to practice politeness in politics.
"Do not accuse each other," Andre asserted.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno at City Hall, Jakarta, Thursday (Aug 9).
Andi tweeted a harsh statement on his personal Twitter account @AndiArief__. He seemed to be disappointed to hear Sandiaga's name arose as Prabowo's presidential candidate.
"Prabowo turned out to be cardboard, tonight we refused him to come to Kuningan. No use to explain it even in written. Prabowo valued money more than the struggle. General cardboard," Andi said in his Twitter account on Aug 8. "Cardboard" was a term used to describe corrupt politician, he explained.
Meanwhile, PKS insisted to consider Ijtima' Ulemas recommendation which nominates PKS Syura (Advisory) Council chairman Salim Segaf Al-Jufri and prominent preacher ustaz Abdul Somad Batubara as vice presidential candidate. PKS Chairman Sohibul Iman said the coalition constalation will be scattered if ulemas' recommendation is not followed.
"If it happens, then PKS can carry on with its nine candidates," Sohibul remarked.
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