REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Nasdem Party General Chairman Surya Paloh accompany campaign number 1 Anies Baswedan to conduct a grand campaign activity in Bandung, West Java on Sunday (28/1/2024). On that occasion, Surya Paloh delivered an oration stressing the importance of preserving democracy and the figure of Anies who was considered appropriate to be the leader of this republic state.
The 10th and 12th Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) also joint the campaign. The two figures provided support by accompanying Anies at the grand campaign event held in Tegallega Square.
“We are in this field only to express our concern, our sense of responsibility to the constitutional mandate that is, on February 14, 2024, the upcoming general election. The election means that it is a very appropriate momentum to provide an evaluation and at the same time, of course, correction of the journey of national life that we have been going through for five years,” Surya Paloh said in his speech, quoted from Jakarta, Sunday.
Paloh stressed about the concept of democracy built in the country. He said the Nasdem Party has a high commitment to carrying out democratic values through the vision of a mission of change that is currently echoed by the vice-presidential partner Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar 'AMIN'.
“Democracy should not be undermined by anyone. Democracy governs, republics also govern personal rights, family rights, and of course public rights. We must not mix between personal rights, family, and certainly public rights,” he said.
Ketum Nasdem said that currently his party is fighting for the commitment of nationalities to realize more and more quality elections. On top of the election, however, Paloh called the main one being fought for was unity.
“Unity is much more important than the election itself. For Nasdem, the unity of the nation's wholeness is more costly than the great more must be maintained than the election itself. We have the commitment and self-consistency to conduct fair elections, free from interference from anywhere,” he said.
On that occasion, Paloh also spoke about her reasons for choosing Anies Baswedan as the candidate she carried in the 2024 presidential election.
“Why did we nominate an Anies Baswedan? The answer is with all due consideration, from the results of reflection, as effective as I understand it, and the age and experience of following the election that Anies so many times is the best of the good,” he said.
Carrying Anies as Paloh's recognized capres went hand in hand with the emergence of a number of challenges and obstacles faced. So, he stressed that winning or losing is common in competing against election contestants every five years.
“This is my message as chairman. This nation needs vigilance. The consistency of what is in the mouth, in the lips, in the heart, and in deeds, one language, one word, and one deed. This is what we fight for together,” he explained.
The presence of Surya Paloh and Jusuf Kalla in the great campaign was recognized as Anies added to his passion in the election of the 2024 presidential election. Anies said the roles of the two were crucial because both figures were judged to be able to read the political atmosphere and consistently make changes.
“He (Surya Paloh) said the signs needed change 1.5 years ago,” Anies said.
Meanwhile, JK is considered experienced in leadership in Indonesia. JK, Anies said, has been involved inside government more than 25 years. “Mr. JK felt very well what was going on and came to the attitude that there had to be a change,” he said.