TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Islamic Defender Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab optimistic the pair of presidential candidate carried out by the Community Coalition could win against the incumbent President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo in the 2019 presidential election.

He said that it was proved in the Jakarta gubernatorial election last year when Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno defeated the incumbent Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat. “Brothers and sisters, let's learn from the Jakarta election, we are capable to win over the incumbent who is backed by the state, publicized by media, and many survey institutes,” said Rizieq Shihab on late Friday, July 27.

Rizieq made the statement during his opening speech in the Ijtima’ Ulema Forum (ulema meeting) organized by the National Movement to Safeguard Indonesian Ulema Councils Edict (GNPF-MUI) in Peninsula Tower Hotel, Jakarta, Friday, July 27 via a teleconference from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Rizieq claimed a total of five parties joined in the Community Coalition were Gerindra Party, PKS, PAN, PBB, and Berkarya Party which he considered as the locomotive of justice enforcers. “Let’s unite the community coalition, against communism, liberalism, and Islamophobia.”

The community coalition, Rizieq said, would welcome Democratic party should it willing to participate. He believed the six parties joined in the coalition would be supported by the massive community. “The power of community will be a great investment in politics,” he added.

The meeting was attended by the leaders of the five parties namely Prabowo Subianto, Zulkifli Hasan, Sohibul Iman, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and Tommy Soeharto. However, the Democratic party was absent.

GNPF head, who is also the organizing committee Yusuf Muhammad Martak said the forum was aimed to convey the community’s aspirations in light of the coalition ahead of presidential race next year and that was the follow-up discussion between Rizieq Shihab and the parties’ chairmen.

DEWI NURITA