TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has touched on the competition between the National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin and the chair of United Development Party (PPP) Muhammad Romahurmuziy or Rommy to become his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.

“Both parties' chairmen, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Romi Romahurmuziy as PPP chairman, are currently competing,” said President Jokowi during his welcoming speech in the VI National Meeting of the Alumni Association of Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (IKA PMII) in JS Luwansa Hotel, Jakarta, Friday, July 20.

Jokowi also mentioned that Cak Imin, who was an alumnus of PMII, had helped him a lot. “Some are visible, some are invisible, such as political works, especially in establishing the Join (Jokowi-Imin) posts,” the president said followed by the audience's applause. Jokowi lauded all PMII alumni for helping the governments’ work thus far.

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Rommy and Cak Imin, both have the same root of supporters from the nation's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), are polishing their image to become Jokowi's running mate in the presidential race next year.

The president further mentioned another PMII alumnus, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri, who approached communities and workers unions that led to fewer rallies by laborers in the past four years.

“Also, Pak Imam Nahrawi, who perhaps in the last six months has difficulties to sleep due to preparations of the 2018 Asian Games,” Jokowi said.

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The opening ceremony of the National Meeting of PMII was attended by Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj, IKA PMII head Akhmad Muqowam, and several ministers of the Working Cabinet, including Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

ANTARA