"Personally, I deplore it, but I honor his decision." The Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Gatot Nurmantyo, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian publics questions, especially on Jakarta have now been answered: three pairs of candidates would run for Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor during the next election to be held in February 2017.

But to the surprise of many and certainly tightening the competition a new figure that was not even part of the latest election discourse so far has emerged as a candidate.

It is the son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)-Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

The army major said he would run with Deputy Jakarta Governor for Tourism and Culture Sylviana Murni as his running mate, betting on his military career despite all the achievements he has made so far.

The Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Gatot Nurmantyo, has said Agus has actually been groomed to become part of one of the cadres for TNI future leadership.

He deplored Agus decision to leave TNI but he honored it as his right. "Personally, I deplore it, but I honor his decision."

By law Agus has to resign from the military following his decision to participate in the election and so does Sylviana Murni Sylviana, who is a civil servant.

Gatot added that Agus would actually have been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in April 2017.

The general said as per law Agus would not be able to return to TNI if he failed in the election contest.

Agus and Sylviana have been nominated by the coalition of Democrat Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and National Mandate Party (PAN).

PKB General Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said the decision to name Agus and Sylviana was based on a number of factors that are all in the interest of the people of Jakarta.

"A combination of a young and fresh man with high integrity, and a career civil servant is promising," Muhaimin said.

The first pair of candidates, who registered with the General Election Commission (KPU), are current Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is also popularly known by his nickname Ahok and his running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

After waiting for months, the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) finally issued a decision to nominate the incumbent as its candidate for the election, with his deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who is the partys cadre as his running mate.

Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also a former president and PDIPs chief, accompanied the candidates herself when they registered with the KPU, along with representatives from other parties that have so far expressed support for Ahoks bid, which are Golkar, Nasdem and Hanura.

Ahok-Djarot are so far considered the most popular and electable pair in comparison with the other potential candidates mentioned so far.

The coalition of Democrats, PAN, PPP and PKB has also expressed confidence in Agus-Sylviana winning the election.

However, "Supporters of the Ahok-Djarot pair do not see the Agus-Sylviana duo as a threat in the election," Dadang Rusdiana, executive board chairman of the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura), has said.

He said the Democrat Party has nominated Agus for the Jakarta regional head election as only part of its efforts to prepare him for becoming a future leader.

"I understand that their target is not winning the election. Therefore, we do not feel it is a threat," he declared.

Also, candidates from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) will not be considered a serious challenge, he added.

The coalition of Gerindra and PKS has nominated former Education Minister Anies Baswedan as a candidate for governor and young businessman Sandiaga Uno as his running mate.

The decision was announced by Gerindra Party Chief Prabowo Subianto, the former candidate of the last presidential election in 2014, at his home on Jalan Kertanegara IV, South Jakarta, on Friday.

Democrat Partys Former Secretary General Marzuki Alie said he believed Yudhoyono had calculated well before allowing his son to run for Jakarta Governor.

"SBY is a strategist and his expertise is recognized well, including in the TNI," he said, and so it was impossible he would "sacrifice" his son without thorough calculation.

He said SBY has always considered credible survey results before taking a decision on public issues.

He further said Ahoks electability is declining and the trend will never be able to rebound, which he believes has also been noticed by SBY.

Marzuki said if Agus fails to win, he would be nominated as the Democrat Party chief.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that simultaneous elections to be held in 101 regions in the country in February 2017 and would run peacefully and democratically.

Minister/State Secretary Pratikno said the government would not side with any pair in the regional elections to be held on February 15, 2017, including in Jakarta.

The three pairs of candidates have officially registered themselves with KPU and also undergone health tests to meet one of the requirements for participating in the election.

KPU will officially announce its decision on their candidacy on October 24 and after that they would be officially called candidates.

Indonesia will hold regional elections simultaneously in 101 regions, including seven provinces in Jakarta, 18 cities and 76 districts on February 15, 2017.

President Widodo has expressed hope that the elections would run smoothly and held democratically. (*)

Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016