JOKOWI, MUHAIMIN PAIRING FAVORED BY MUSLIM VOTERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 6 (Antara) - Many predict incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will be reelected for a second term in 2019, despite the fact that he has not decided who his running mate will be.          Major political parties, including the Golkar Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB), which have formed a coalition to support Jokowi's bid for reelection, have expressed hope that their respective general chairmen will be chosen as the President's running mate.          The Golkar Party has encouraged President Jokowi and Golkar General Chairman Airlangga Hartarto (AH) to pair up for the 2019 presidential election.          "Jokowi-AH is an ideal pair that is mutually complementary," Golkar's Chairman for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Melki Laka Lena, said in a press statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.          The NTT chapter of Golkar wholeheartedly supports the proposal to select Jokowi and AH as the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential race, Lena said.          "This is the official stance of the Golkar NTT," Lena revealed. "Golkar NTT declared its support for the Jokowi-AH pairing on Wednesday."     The same hope is also expressed by PKB, which is confident that President Jokowi will get reelected in 2019 as plenty of progress has been made under his administration, particularly in the field of infrastructure.

WHO WILL BE JOKOWI'S RUNNING MATE, KALLA OR SAMAD?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 12 (Antara) - The Indonesian people are now waiting for PDIP's decision to name the running mate of its presidential candidate Joko Widodo for the upcoming July 9 presidential elections.          Jakarta governor Joko Widodo --popularly known as Jokowi who is believed to have the biggest chance to win the next presidential elections-- is expected to announce the name of his running mate this week.          Many names have been mentioned so far but now the names to be selected by the Indonesian Democratic Part of Struggle (PDIP), have narrowed to two: former vice president Jusuf Kalla and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Abraham Samad.          "Jokowi's running mate will be announced between May 10 and May 18. He is among those often mentioned by the media," PDIP Deputy Secretary General Hasto Kristianto said in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday.

IN SEARCH OF INDONESIA'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will hold its presidential elections in 2014, but until now, the country is unaware of the public's favorite candidate.          However, it does not mean that Indonesia lacks qualified leaders that are fit to be a president. There are many young and talented people who have not come into the public's view. Indonesia has a number of potential leaders who could be nominated in the 2014 presidential race.          "It is not that we do not have qualified leaders. In fact, we have a number of potential leaders who have not come into the public's view yet," said Kuskridho Ambardi, executive director of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI).      Potential leaders will emerge once they have the right capabilities and qualifications. "Their ability to solve a specific national problem should be discussed at a later stage. What's important is that they have the capability, integrity and the necessary qualifications," Kuskridho said.