Jakarta (ANTARA) -
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has congratulated Jusuf Kalla on his re-election as the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairperson for 2024–2029.
In a statement issued on Friday, IFRC President Kate Forbes said that the PMI plays an integral part in promoting peer-to-peer cooperation and building regional capacity for humanitarian action, not only for the IFRC network but also for their combined contribution to ASEAN.
"PMI's commitment to delivering humanitarian assistance, fostering resilience, and expanding regional collaboration has been a source of strength within the IFRC network and the ASEAN community," she added.
She said that the IFRC looks forward to collaborating with the PMI to address evolving challenges and deliver lasting impact for communities in need, as Indonesia grows in terms of influence, positioning, and active involvement in the regional and global landscape.
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She expressed her belief that the PMI can become a leading reference for building resilient communities in Southeast Asia.
"We wish you every success in this new chapter," Forbes added.
This is Kalla's fourth stint leading the PMI. He was re-elected after the majority of 490 eligible voters favored him at the humanitarian institution's 22nd National Meeting. He has been leading the institution since 2009.
The meeting's committee chair, Fachmi Idris, noted on December 9 that there were two candidates for the post: Kalla and former coordinating minister for people's welfare, Agung Laksono.
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However, Laksono failed to gain at least 20 percent of the votes until the deadline, rendering him ineligible for candidacy.
"Whereas Jusuf Kalla received more than 50 percent of the votes (from the eligible voters)," Idris said.
There were some disputes regarding the leadership of the PMI, with Laksono launching his own PMI national discussion after the original one, which he described as odd, constraining, and a forced attempt to keep Kalla in the leading position.
The issue was then handed to the government for resolution.
The government acknowledged Kalla as the leader of the PMI. On Friday, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas confirmed that after a thorough verification process, Kalla has been deemed the lawful leader of the PMI.