Indonesia
Indonesia is set to hold simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) in the Upcoming months. Several alumni of UNISMA have emerged as potential candidates for regent, deputy regent, mayor, and deputy mayor in the 2024 regional elections.
Below are several UNISMA alumni who are widely mentioned as prospective regional leadership candidates, ranging from regents and mayors to governor candidates in the elections scheduled for November.
1. Nurul Azizah
Nurul Azizah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Universitas Islam Malang. Dra. Nurul Azizah, MM, is now a prospective candidate for Regent of Bojonegoro, running alongside Nafik, a member of the Bojonegoro Regional Legislative Council.
2. Wanedi
Wanedi is an alumnus of Master’s Program in Administrative Science at UNISMA Postgraduate School. Graduated in 2022 after completing the program in just three semesters, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician has extensive political experience as a legislative member and previously ran as a candidate for Deputy Mayor of Malang in the 2018 regional election.
3. Subandi
A recent graduate of the Master’s Program in Notary Law, Subandi is considered a strong candidate for Regent of Sidoarjo in the 2024 elections. He currently serves as Acting Regent of Sidoarjo and Chair of the Sidoarjo Regency Branch of the National Awakening Party (PKB) for the 2021–2026 term.
4. Heli Suyanto
Heli Suyanto completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Law in 2012 and later earned his master’s degree in 2021. A cadre of the Gerindra Party, he has served as a legislative council member since 2014 and currently holds the position of Deputy Speaker of the Regional Legislative Council of Batu. With his strategic position, he is widely mentioned as a potential mayoral candidate.
Read also: UNISMA Doctoral Program Conducts First-Stage Selection for 2024 PTKI Scholarship Candidates
5. Nurochman
Nurochman, SH., MH., is an alumnus of both undergraduate and master’s programs in law at UNISMA. PKB politician has served as a member of Batu City Regional Legislative Council since 2014 and became Deputy Speaker during the 2019 term. His political standing has placed him among the potential candidates for Mayor of Batu.
6. Punjul Santoso
Ir. Punjul Santoso, SH., MM., graduated from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry at Universitas Islam Malang. Most recently, he served as Deputy Mayor of Batu from 2019 to 2024, alongside former Mayor Dewanti Rumpoko.
7. Ali Ahmad
Ali Ahmad, SH widely known as Gus Ali served as a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI) from 2019 to 2024, representing Commission XI, which oversees finance and banking. Gus Ali and Nurochman are both considered strong candidates from PKB.
8. Dwi Hari Cahyono
Popularly known as Mas Dwi, he is a prospective candidate for Mayor of Malang from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The East Java Provincial Legislative Council member completed his Master’s degree in Administrative Science at UNISMA in 2019.
9. Marzuki Mustamar
KH Marzuki Mustamar is an alumnus of the Doctoral Program in Multicultural Islamic Religious Education at UNISMA. The prominent cleric is widely discussed as a potential political rival to Khofifah Indar Parawansa in the 2024 East Java gubernatorial election.
In addition to the nine alumni above, a current UNISMA student has also entered the list of potential regional election candidates in 2024. He is Purnomo Hadi, who is being considered in the regional election race in Madiun Regency.
Responding to this development, Head of the Public Administration Study Program at UNISMA, Slamet Muchsin, expressed congratulations and pride as a fellow UNISMA alumnus, noting that graduates from both undergraduate and master’s programs have actively contributed to public service and regional development.
“Alumni must uphold the trust placed in them by the public if they are entrusted with leading their regions,” said the former Dean of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences.
“We hope our alumni will always maintain credibility and demonstrate strong governance capabilities for the benefit of society,” he concluded.
