Semarang, NU Online
Islamic scholar of Pekalongan Habib Lutfi bin Ali bin Yahya said he approved the candidacy of three pairs of governor and vice governor candidates who will contest the Central Java gubernatorial election, adding that the three hopefuls were valuable assets for the provinace.<>

"I have to respect every asset of Central Java, whoever he was. As a person regarded senior, scholar, I do approve their candidacy," Habib Luthfi said in the sidelines of a religious gathering here recently.

"The important thing is that Central Java will remain conducive, we greatly appreciate anyone intending to build and promote Central Java. They came only to ask the blessing and prayer. Yes that's all, I approve the three," he said.

As for personal choice among the three pairs, the chairman of the Jam'iyyah Ahlith Thoriqoh al-Mu'tabaroh an-Nahdliyyah (Jatman) he said he would remain neutral in the upcoming elections.

He said he did not want to get involved in practical politics, especially in supporting one candidate pair, adding that he gave freedom to his followers in choosing their own candidates.

The Central Java Elections Commission (KPUD) officially announced recently the three governor and deputy governor candidate pairs who will run in the gubernatorial race, slated for May 26.

The three pairs are Bibit Waluyo–Sudijono Sastroatmodjo; Ganjar Pranowo–Heru Sudjatmoko, and Hadi Prabowo–Don Murdono.

KPUD chairman Fajar Subhi said the candidacy of the three pairs was now official as they had each met the legal requirements, which include being of sound mind and body, submitting respective 
wealth reports and providing their visions and missions.

He added that now the official announcement had been made, the candidates, most of whom are civil servants, were obliged to submit letters of resignation to their superiors. In the case of the candidates seeking the governorship, they have to submit their letters to the President.

Incumbent Bibit is nominated by a coalition of the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN). In the last gubernatorial election, Bibit was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). His running mate, Sudijono, is rector of Semarang State University.

The PDI-P’s gubernatorial candidate, Ganjar Pranowo, is a lawmaker at the House of Representatives. His running mate, Heru Sudjatmoko, is the regent of Purbalingga, Central Java.

Hadi Prabowo and running mate Don Murdono are nominated by the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, the People’s Conscience (Hanura) Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), 
the United Development Party (PPP), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Ulema Awakening Party (PKNU).

Hadi is currently secretary of the Central Java administration, while Don is regent of Sumedang, West Java.

Fajar Subhi added that the pairs’ numbers would be drawn on April 16, while their respective financial assets would be announced on May 2.

On May 8, the candidates are scheduled to present their respective visions, while the campaign period is scheduled for May 10-22.

Semarang Diponegoro University’s social and political science lecturer, Yulianto, said the three pairs of candidates had an equal opportunity to win the election. His conclusion, he said, was based on their respective political party machines, community networks and understanding of the province’s problems.

Yulianto said that although the incumbent claimed to be the most popular among all the candidates, that would not necessarily determine his electability level. “The fact that the candidates are bureaucrats leaves some people concerned that they might use the bureaucracy [to win the most votes],” Yulianto said.

He expressed his hope that the Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) would watch out for the possibility of such violations.

Bawaslu chairman Abhan Misbah agreed that there was a chance the candidates may use civil servants, especially given the fact that four of the candidates — Bibit, Hadi, Heru and Don — were state officials.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq