One of those who attended the packed event, noted as one of the most important legacies of Indonesia's founding father Soekarno, was Abdul Muiz.
Muiz, 26, an ordinary Indonesian, who works at a retail company in Jakarta's greater areas, took a day off from work to attend the campaign.
Stating that he has frequently watched his preferred presidential and vice presidential candidates' campaign speeches via videos across social media platforms, he rode his motorbike all the way from Pondok Pinang in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, to the campaign venue to hear his the duo speak in person.
Like many other ordinary Indonesians who believe the hope for a glorious Indonesia rests on the shoulders of the Prabowo-Sandi pair, Muiz also feels that the two leaders will be able to solve all the hurdles and crucial problems that Indonesia has been facing over the past few years.
"I want them to end the discrimination against the ulemas. To this end, every time I see Mr. Prabowo Subianto, I always pray to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala that He makes him Indonesia's eighth president," he said.
Speaking about the crowds at the Prabowo-Sandi pair's massive campaign event on Sunday, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Fahri Hamzah termed it as hysteria.
The attendees were not just Jakartans. Instead, many of them came from cities, towns, and villages far away from Jakarta and stayed in hotels near the campaign venue at their own cost. They travelled in their own cars, motorbikes, and bicycles, while still others opted for public buses, trains, and even planes.
The hysteria would be a determining factor in ensuring the Prabowo-Sandi pair defeats incumbent President Joko Widodo, who has been seeking reelection with his running mate, Ma'ruf Amin, in the Presidential Elections, due to be held on April 17.
In Hamzah's opinion, this sort of hysteria was also the reason Anies Baswedan saw a surprise victory against the incumbent Jakarta Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, in the 2017 regional elections.
According to Hamzah, who spoke in a video that he posted on his Twitter account after attending the Prabowo-Sandi pair's campaign at the GBK soccer stadium on Sunday, a similar hysteria had also contributed to the victory of Joko Widodo in 2014.
However, this time, as revealed by the calls of people such as Muiz, and of a million other people who came to the GBK Sports Complex to see and hear their preferred pair of leaders, the hysteria that could partly contribute to the victory of a pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates on April 17 now seems to belong to the Prabowo-Sandi pair.
EDITED BY INE
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
