By: Wisang Geni) *
Candidate for Vice President No. 01 Ma’ruf Amin, today began his visit to the province of West Sumatra, he will visit a number of places including the headquarters of the presidential candidate challenger Prabowo Subianto.
Ma’ruf Amin’s presence at the Minangkabau International Airport, was immediately welcomed by the Jokowi Regional Campaign Team – Ma’ruf, West Sumatra, and its volunteers. In addition, his arrival also begins with the Wave dance, typical of the Sumatra region.
He asserted, the purpose of his safari to West Sumatra, of course, wanted to gain votes. Where in the 2014 Presidential Election, Jokowi lost in ‘Prabowo’s’ cage.
It was noted, in the 2014 Pilpers, Jokowi only won 23.08 percent of the vote. Whereas Prabowo and Hatta Rajasa won 76.92 percent of the vote.
Ma’ruf Amin certainly wants to achieve a bigger, bigger voice better, he said. He also believes that conditions in West Sumatra are currently different from the 2014 Presidential Election. The target is to win in West Sumatra, which Jokowi used to lose, but now has changed, Jokowi – Maufuf must win.
In addition, Ma’ruf Amin will also visit several cities such as Payakumbuh, Agam Regency, Bukittinggi City and Padang Panjang. In Payakumbuh, Ma’uf followed the Tabligh Akbar and stayed in touch with the congregation of the Naqshabandiyah Order and the Sammaniyah Congregation.
Scheduled, Ma’ruf Amin will start visiting Payakumbuh. He is scheduled to meet with the congregation Tariqah, Payakumbuh. In addition, there was also a gathering with Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al Minangkabawi’s family, a pilgrimage to the tomb of Sheikh Sulaiman Ar-Rasuli and staying in touch with Bung Hatta’s family at Bung Hatta’s birthplace in Bukittinggi. Then to Padang Panjang visited the Diniyah Putri college, as well as making a pilgrimage to the grave of Hj Rahmah El Yunusiah (founder of Diniyah Putri Padang Panjang College)
The Chairperson of the Indonesian Youth Minang Youth Association (IPPMI) M Rafiq Perkasa Alamsyah who accompanied Ma’ruf Amin said that the arrival of Ma’ruf Amin received an enthusiastic welcome. Where around 5000 people will listen to Tabligh Akbar in Payakumbuh.
In addition to meeting with Jokowi volunteers – Ma’ruf Sumbar, Vice Chancellor Ma’ruf Amin also got a schedule to fill the public lecture at UIN Imam Bonjol Padang. Before leaving for Jakarta, Ma’ruf was scheduled to visit Nurul Yakin Islamic Boarding School in Padang Pariaman and visit the tomb of Sheikh Burhanudin in Ulakan Tapakis, Padang Pariaman.
Ma’ruf Amin also explained that the No. 01 Candidate Pair was supported by a large coalition of ten parties. In fact, there are several other parties that are structurally not supportive, but in some regions provide support.
In West Sumatra, Kiai Ma’ruf stated that his potential was large. “The volunteers are big, on average the heads of regions, regents, mayors have given support,” said the well-known figure called Abah Ma’ruf.
“After I asked here and there about the achievements of Pak Jokowi’s first period whether he had enjoyed it or not, (the answer) already,” he said.
He asserted that this great potential must be converted into electability. Therefore, the volunteer movement coordinating with existing parties would make the Jokowi pair – Maufuf win. He is also optimistic that Number 01 will win the presidential election in West Sumatra.
FKRPJ Chairperson Hartin Asrin said that there were around 24 volunteer groups who joined them. He believes that soon the number will increase.
He revealed that the support provided was one of the factors because it assessed and felt the development that had been carried out by the Jokowi government.
On another occasion, Ma’ruf Amin briefly explained the reason for accepting an offer to accompany President Joko Widodo to advance in the general election on 17 April. According to him, this was an opportunity for scholars to enter the government. Moreover, all this time the majority of the clerics or clerics were only asked for support from the presidential candidates and after that they were left behind.
Maufuf likens ulama or kiai as bay leaves. Its existence is needed to make dishes more delicious and tasty. However, when the dish is cooked, the bay leaves are the first to be thrown away.
While Jokowi did not only get support from the ulama, but the only candidate who took the ulama, he said.
Although in 2014 Jokowi had to acknowledge the soundness achieved by Prabowo, the optimism to win votes in West Sumatra was in harmony with the support of a number of young ulama in West Sumatra, they were incorporated in the Indonesian Jokowi Young Ulama Solidarity (SAMAWI) which declared support for the Jokowi couple – Maruf in the April 2019 Election.
West Sumatra’s Samawi Korwil, Rudi Ahmad said, the young Sumbar cleric was the 10th or the last Samawi Korwil in Indonesia.
He hopes that all young ulama in West Sumatra who support Jokowi – Maufuf can provide a political nuance by campaigning politely. Therefore, Samawi will be one of the spearheads to win Jokowi – Ma’ruf in West Sumatra, especially among the Young Ulama.
Not only that, it also believes that rational voters in West Sumatra can make their choices wisely.
Support from the ulamas certainly could ward off Jokowi’s anti-clerical assumption, even though Jokowi was known to be close to ulama, intellectuals and Muslim figures such as cleric Maimun Zubair, Mustofa Bisri, Ahmad Syafii Ma’arif and others.
) * The author is a West Sumatra Student, living in Jakarta
