Malang. East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa officially extended her support to presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday, marking a pivotal endorsement for the upcoming presidential race.

Khofifah not only declared her endorsement but also expressed her desire to actively participate in Prabowo's campaign team.

"I said earlier that I will announce my support after completing the Umrah pilgrimage in January. Now I keep my promise immediately from Juanda Airport with the decision to join the campaign team of the candidate pair identified by ballot number 2," Khofifah said, referring to Prabowo and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

"I have formally requested the campaign team to convey my role as a national campaigner for Prabowo to the General Election Commission," she said during her visit to a high school in Malang.

Recognized for her charismatic leadership, Khofifah's backing could prove instrumental in bolstering Prabowo's prospects in East Java. Her strong affiliations with the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, hold significant sway in the region.

East Java has historically been a key battleground, and Prabowo's previous electoral losses to President Joko Widodo in the province underscore its strategic importance in the upcoming presidential contest.

The imminent three-way presidential election scheduled for February 14 will witness Prabowo contesting against former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo.