REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice presidential candidate KH Ma'ruf Amin has expressed optimism that the majority of Muslims in the country would support incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and him in the election next year. He said around 400 influential clerics have already expressed their support to his camp for the election in April 2019.

"Around 400 senior and influential clerics (that) have gathered in Jakarta and declared support to Jokowi and me," he said at High End Building in response to newsmen regarding the decision of clerics grouped in the National Movement to Safeguard Ulemas Fatwa (GNPF) to support the opposition's camp presidential contender Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno.

Around 400 clerics gathered at Asshiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School here on Sunday. They had declared support to Jokowi in his bid to seek reelection with Kiai Ma'ruf, who is the chief of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) as his running mate.

Kiai Ma'ruf said the senior clerics that have expressed support to his camp are mostly leaders of Islamic boarding schools from various parts of the country. He said he believed students of the schools would follow their leaders.

"Students usually follow their clerics," Kiai Ma'ruf, who is Nahdlatul Ulama supreme leader, which is the biggest Islamic organization in the country, said.

With regard to campaigning, which is officially scheduled to start on September 23, Kiai Ma'ruf said he planned to conduct visits to various regions including the boarding schools.

Previously, Praabowo thanked the Ulemas Ijtima II of the National Movement to Safeguard Ulema's Fatwa (GNPF Ulama), on the trust they had given to him and Sandiaga. He has sign integrity pact prepared by the ulemas.

"The honest support given to us is very touching for me and I promise to the Ulemas Ijtima that I will contribute all my spirit and sole to do the best for the nation and state of Indonesia," Prabowo told the press conference in Jakarta, on Sunday.

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