Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Golkar Party Chairman and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, has expressed his unwavering commitment to securing victory for Ridwan Kamil (RK) and his running mate, Suswono, in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Bahlil emphasized that supporting Ridwan Kamil is both a political obligation and a moral duty for the Golkar Party.
“Mr. Ridwan Kamil is a leader within Golkar’s central executive board, and as a party, we are obligated to put forth maximum effort to ensure his success,” Bahlil said. “We will go all out to win this race for Ridwan Kamil and Mr. Suswono.”
Optimism and Confidence in Victory
Bahlil exuded confidence, likening his feelings about the Jakarta election to his optimism during the recent presidential race.
“As part of the Coalition of the Forward Indonesia Party (Koalisi Indonesia Maju), optimism is essential,” he stated. “My feelings today remind me of the presidential election—Insya Allah, we’ll achieve a similar outcome.”
Bahlil Lahadalia cast his vote at polling station TPS 003 in Pancoran, South Jakarta. He arrived at 8:20 a.m., accompanied by gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil and Golkar Secretary-General M. Sarmuji.
Ridwan Kamil’s Confidence
Ridwan Kamil, popularly known as Kang Emil, explained his decision to accompany Bahlil during voting.
“As a Golkar Party representative, I’m here in support of my coalition, which also includes PKS as our partner in the KIM Plus alliance,” Ridwan stated.
Kamil expressed optimism about the election outcome while emphasizing humility and prayer.
“This is my third election, and like Mr. Bahlil, I feel confident and positive,” Kamil noted. “However, we must surrender the results to Allah while continuing to pray for the best outcome.”
Encouraging Voter Turnout
RK also urged Jakarta residents to exercise their voting rights, emphasizing the importance of participation in shaping the city’s future.
“To all Jakartans, I hope you’ll come to the polling stations by 1 p.m. and cast your votes. With strong support, we can secure a favorable result for the RIDO ticket,” Kamil said, referring to the Ridwan Kamil–Suswono campaign nickname.
Controversial Instagram Post
Earlier, the public was stirred by an Instagram post from celebrity Raffi Ahmad, who shared a letter from Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto endorsing RK and Suswono. Although the post was later deleted, it drew significant attention to the race.
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Broad Political Support
RK and Suswono have secured backing from a coalition of 15 political parties, including PAN, PKS, PPP, Gerindra, Golkar, and Perindo. With this widespread support, the coalition remains optimistic about the election’s outcome.
The Jakarta gubernatorial election is seen as a high-stakes contest that could set the tone for broader political alliances in Indonesia.
