Partyforumseasia: The (Islamist) Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had won 7.34 % in the 2004 election on its anti-corruption stance and promise of good governance, and probably profited as well from its credibility among religious voters. So the arrest and indictment for corruption of former leader Luthfi Hassan Ishaaq in January has heavily dented the credibility of the party. The recent re-election of West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan and his running mate Deddy “Demiz” Mizwar ( see link: “The awesome power of sausage politics“) must be seen as an attempt to counter the loss of credibility by using a popular PR-professional as running mate. It would probably be wrong for the party to take the governor’s re-election as a sign that the voters are forgetful.

Source / link: Straits Times, 22.3.2013