Jakarta.  Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil and his running mate Suswono are planning an important meeting with former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, whose enduring popularity remains a significant factor in the upcoming 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial race. The meeting aims to tap into Anies' influential voter base and gain valuable insights for their campaign.

"We hope to arrange a meeting with former governors, including Anies, in the near future," Suswono told reporters on Friday.

Suswono also mentioned that Ridwan Kamil has been in touch with Anies Baswedan. The timing of their meeting will be coordinated based on their schedules.

"God willing, Mr. Ridwan Kamil has already exchanged WhatsApp messages with him. We are just awaiting a response," added Suswono.

A recent survey by the Political Strategy Group (PSG) revealed that Jakarta residents still favor former governors Anies Baswedan and Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the upcoming 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election, even though neither is running. The survey showed Anies Baswedan leading with 38 percent, Ahok with 22 percent, and Ridwan Kamil with 15 percent. Meanwhile, 18 percent of respondents were unsure or did not answer.

Initially, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) considered nominating Anies but ultimately chose Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, who will run alongside Rano Karno. According to PDI-P spokesman Chico Hakim, Anies did not align with the party's ideological stance, and PDI-P preferred to support its own members for key electoral positions.

Earlier, the RK-Suswono team visited former Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso’s residence in Kalimanggis, Jatikarya, Jatisampurna, Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday.

During the 90-minute visit, they discussed with Sutiyoso his experiences and strategies for addressing Jakarta's ongoing issues such as traffic congestion and flooding. Sutiyoso, who governed Jakarta from 1997 to 2007, highlighted the persistent challenges facing the capital.

"Classic problems like flooding, traffic congestion, and population issues remain significant challenges. I hope this pair can tackle these issues effectively and continue the programs initiated by previous governors if elected," Sutiyoso, also known as Bang Yos, said.

Ridwan Kamil commended Sutiyoso for his emphasis on public dialogue and received valuable advice on managing slum areas through humanitarian approaches and improving traffic with better spatial planning.

"We need to increase housing in the city center and encourage business centers to expand to areas outside the city center, such as Simatupang in the south and the west, east, and north regions, to improve the efficiency of people and vehicle movement," Ridwan Kamil explained.