Ahmad Shoim, Jakarta – The Muslim Clerics and Students National Network (JKSN) has vowed to throw its weight behind the presidential and vice-presidential candidacy of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
"Muslim clerics and students from various regions of Indonesia affiliated with JKSN will reach out to diverse layers of society to advocate for Prabowo and Gibran," said Asep Syaifuddin Chalim, a member of the group's advisory council, after attending the consolidation event in Surabaya, East Java on Saturday.
KH Asep Syaifuddin said that JKSN currently boasts millions of members spread throughout Indonesia, instilling confidence in the potential one-round victory for Prabowo and Gibran.
"We are optimistic about securing a one-round victory. There are two crucial factors in one round: firstly, related to cost savings for the election, and secondly, minimizing friction," he explained.
Meanwhile, Emil Elestianto Dardak, the spokesperson for vice-presidential candidate Gibran, expressed gratitude to JKSN for their tireless campaign for Prabowo-Gibran. With JKSN's unwavering support, Emil believes that the pair can clinch victory in the 2024 Presidential Election.
"We are all striving for the triumph of Prabowo-Gibran. JKSN embodies the spirit to carry on President Joko Widodo's legacy. This spirit unifies all Muslim clerics in their endeavors to secure victory for Prabowo and Gibran," Emil said.
The most recent surveys reveal that Prabowo is leading in electability. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) survey, 43.7 percent of respondents prefer Prabowo, while 26.1 percent support Anies Baswedan, and 19.4 percent back Ganjar Prabowo.
In addition, the Indikator Politik survey indicates that the electability of Prabowo-Gibran has improved from 45.6 percent to 46.7 percent following the last two presidential and vice-presidential debates. Anies' electability stands at 21 percent, and Ganjar's is at 24.5 percent.
In a separate event, Muslim preacher Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman, known as Gus Miftah, convened with thousands of nyai (female Muslim leaders) from Central Java to support Prabowo-Gibran.
"People who are consistently close to Muslim students and the community, especially mothers, play a crucial role. We also understand that kiai, such as ourselves, can succeed because of their support. Therefore, the existence of their female counterparts should not be underestimated; on the contrary, they must be the mainstay for the victory of the pair with ballot number 2," said Gus Miftah in Semarang on Saturday.