Establishing Intense Communication, Sudirman Said Will Run for the DKI Gubernatorial Election through Political Parties

Sudirman Said cannot yet reveal which political parties he is referring to because the communication process is not yet final.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said, during the launch of his second anthology book "Moving with Justice", on Thursday (November 30, 2023), in Jakarta.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — After failing to run for the election for Governor of DKI Jakarta on an individual basis, former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said began to intensively communicate, both formally and informally, with a number of political parties. Communication was built to lobby political parties to be willing to nominate Sudirman as a candidate for governor of DKI Jakarta.

The Sudirman Said team had consulted and requested access to the Candidate Information System (Silon) from the Jakarta Regional Election Commission (KPU DKI) because they were running as independent candidates. However, until the last deadline for submitting voter support documents, Sudirman had not submitted the requirements for the Governor Election (Pilgub) nomination to the KPU DKI Jakarta.

Canceling his candidacy from the independent route, Sudirman is trying to be supported by political parties or a coalition of political parties in the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. Sudirman claims that many political parties have openly stated their support and welcomed his desire to run in the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.

However, Sudirman has not yet been able to reveal which political parties are being referred to as the communication process is not yet final. "At this stage, I cannot mention which parties have given strong signals to provide recommendations. But from public discourse, parties that openly welcome my presence, it seems sufficient for the requirement to advance through the political party channel," said Sudirman when contacted on Sunday (May 26, 2024).

Also read: Sudirman Said Advances for DKI Jakarta Regional Election on Individual Path

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Cultural figure Eros Djarot, while speaking at a political discussion titled "Rethinking Indonesia: The Worst Election in Indonesian History, Will We Decline?" at the Grandhika Hotel in South Jakarta on Saturday (2/3/2024).

Sudirman revealed that the good relations he had built with political parties were not only carried out ahead of 2024 Pilkada, but had been going on for a long time. He will continue to maintain communication, both formal and informal.

Sudirman also realizes that political parties have their own mechanism in determining the figure to be nominated in the Jakarta 2024 Regional Election. This is because these political parties have their own respective interests.

"In Jakarta and all over Indonesia, every eligible person who receives support from a political party has a constitutional right to compete. So, ultimately, it will depend on the decision of the political parties," he said.

Currently, according to Sudirman, he is not only communicating with political parties, but also with supportive elements. He has also formed a team to face the Jakarta regional elections, ranging from a substance research and vision mission and program drafting team, a media team, to a volunteer node team that has started working.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

Motorcycle riders pass by a poster of a prospective candidate for mayor in the 2020 South Tangerang City Mayoral Election on Aria Putra Street, Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday (18/1/2020).

"Because of their spirit and encouragement, I have agreed and opened the possibility to participate in this local election. I ask for prayers from all Jakarta residents, may I go through all the stages as best as possible," said Sudirman.

Assessed competent

A number of political parties have opened up opportunities to nominate Sudirman Said to run for the 2024 Jakarta Pilkada. Head of the Strategic Communications Agency/Coordinator of Spokesperson for the DPP Demokrat Party, Herzaky Mahendra Putra, said that apart from studying the names or figures internally to be considered for advancement, the Democrats are also looking at external figures, one of whom is Sudirman Said. Because, Sudirman Said is considered competent and has leadership and managerial skills.

"Jakarta is strategic. So, it serves as a barometer for many things and influences many regions. What we want is for the Jakarta leader to truly think and care about the citizens of Jakarta. Focus on managing Jakarta, not just maintaining public attention or increasing popularity for the 2029 elections," Herzaky stated.

DOKUMENTASI PRIBADI HERZAKY DARI TWITTER

Head of the Democratic Party's DPP Strategic Communications Agency Herzaky Mahendra Putra.

Apart from the Democrats, the Nasdem Party has also stated that it is open to nominating figures who want to advance in the Jakarta Pilkada through Nasdem, including Sudirman Said. Secretary General of the Nasdem Party, Hermawi Taslim, said that all candidates have the same opportunity to be promoted by Nasdem. "Sudirman Said has the same opportunity and has been registered or has filed with Nasdem," said Hermawi.

To this day, the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Nasdem Party is still waiting for all the documents that are still being sent by regional officials. When all the candidate files are received by the DPP, the next stage is to hold a plenary session to determine the potential regional heads. "The preparation process for the regional elections right now, Nasdem is still in the phase of sending files from the regions to the DPP. After that, the DPP will hold a plenary session," said Hermawi.