PDI-P Reminds Prabowo Not to Anticriticize

The Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of PDI-P, Ahmad Basarah, when contacted in Jakarta on Friday (10/5/2024), stated that his party was grateful to Prabowo for stating that Bung Karno belongs to all Indonesian people. The statement is considered very appropriate. The statement would be less appropriate if Prabowo claimed that Bung Karno belongs to a certain party.

"I think it's appropriate for Mr. Prabowo to state that Bung Karno belongs to all Indonesian people because in reality, Bung Karno is a Father of the Indonesian Nation," said Basarah.

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Prabowo's statement was conveyed during the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in South Jakarta on Thursday (9/5/2024). The event was attended by all PAN members from the provincial to local level.

I think it is appropriate that Mr. Prabowo stated that Sukarno belongs to all of the Indonesian people, because in essence Sukarno is the Father of the Indonesian Nation.

Basarah asserts that Prabowo's statement proves the success of PDI-P's political struggle so far in restoring Bung Karno's status, role, and good name to where it should be. During the New Order era, Bung Karno did not receive the recognition and treatment as Prabowo now emphasizes. Because at that time, Bung Karno was not treated as he should as a freedom fighter, the nation's Proclamation maker, the founder of Pancasila, and the first president of RI.

Hopefully, if Mr. Prabowo becomes the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the future, he will be a fair and wise leader, and willing and courageous to lead in accordance with the values of Pancasila inherited by Bung Karno and other founding fathers of the nation.

Therefore, in the mission of political struggle, PDI-P never compartmentalizes Bung Karno to be owned by only one group or one party. This is because it contradicts the existence and identity of Bung Karno, who is not only owned by the Indonesian people but also the world.

"I hope that if Mr. Prabowo becomes the President of Indonesia in the future, he will be a fair and wise leader, and willing and brave enough to carry out his leadership in accordance with the values of Pancasila that were inherited by Bung Karno and other founding fathers of the nation," said Basarah.

Belongs to residents who long for peace

Secretary General of PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto added that Bung Karno belongs to the people, nation, and state of Indonesia. Not only that, Bung Karno also belongs to all citizens of nations who yearn for peace through the implementation of values of humanity and justice in the international system.

According to Hasto, the most important thing is to realize the ideas, thoughts, aspirations, ideas and struggles of Bung Karno for the sake of achieving Indonesia's sovereignty, independence, and cultural identity, as well as building global brotherhood. "This is the most fundamental thing, not a claim to formal identity," he said.

It should not be forgotten that historically, the roots of PDI Perjuangan lie in PNI (Indonesian National Party) founded by Bung Karno.

PDI-P, said Hasto, has an emotional bond with Bung Karno because of its ideological, historical aspects and also its suitability for the future direction of the nation as initiated by Bung Karno. "Don't forget that historically, the roots of the PDI Perjuangan were the PNI (Indonesian National Party) which was founded by Bung Karno," he stressed.

Not anti-criticism

During the PAN National Coordination Meeting yesterday, in his speech, Prabowo also requested those who refuse to cooperate to not become disruptors. Prabowo admitted that he will continue to fight alongside those who are willing to cooperate.

Prabowo also said that there were three Indonesian presidents who also supported him to become president. The three presidents are the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, the sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the fourth President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur. The name of the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia who is also the General Chair of the PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri was not mentioned at all by Prabowo.

Prabowo also requested that those who do not want to cooperate should not become a hindrance. Prabowo stated that he will continue to fight alongside those who are willing to collaborate.

Basarah hopes that Prabowo will not become a leader who is anti-criticism. Prabowo is also expected not to view those who are not part of his government and those who criticize him as "disruptors."

This is so that checks and balances occur and does not become an authoritarian country because Pancasila democracy which teaches political balance is the best choice for the Indonesian people.

Because, in the democratic system inherited by the nation's founding fathers, and also stipulated in the constitution, the Indonesian people are given the sovereign right to monitor the course of the state's political power.

"This is so that checks and balances occur and that it does not become an authoritarian country because Pancasila democracy which teaches political balance is the best choice for the Indonesian people," said Basarah.

Political Science lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, A Bakir Ihsan, sees that some of Prabowo's statements could be the culmination of his disappointment towards PDI-P. This is because, from some attempts at approaching Megawati made by Prabowo, it seems that no clear solution has been found yet.

"Because of this, a statement emerged that emphasized the distance between Prabowo and Megawati until now," said Bakir.

Currently, de facto and de jure, PDI-P is still part of President Jokowi's government because its cadres still remain in the cabinet and work according to President Jokowi's directions. So, until now, institutionally there has been no sign of PDI-P opposition, except for partial statements from PDI-P cadres.

However, according to him, politics is not a mathematical and final calculation. It could be that Prabowo's statement is an illustration of the current conditions and we still hope for Megawati's willingness to open communication and be with Prabowo's government after being appointed president. Therefore, the position of the PDI-P opposition cannot be read at this time because Prabowo is not yet de jure president, head of government.

"Currently, de facto and de jure, PDI-P is still part of President Jokowi's government because its cadres are still in the cabinet and working according to President Jokowi's directions. "So, until now, institutionally there are no signs of PDI-P opposition, except for partial statements from PDI-P cadres," said Bakir.

Here is the difference between Prabowo and SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), whom people later accused of being indecisive and not firm. While Prabowo, before even being inaugurated, has already conveyed his 'firmness' to not cause trouble if one does not want to work together.

Regarding Prabowo's statement requesting those who do not want to cooperate with him to not become "troublemakers", Bakir interpreted this as an expression of Prabowo's frustration because he may have already made maximum efforts to invite or embrace certain figures or parties but was rejected.

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However, that is politics. Politicians must have endless patience because not everyone likes them. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has tried various ways to reach out to Megawati, but has not succeeded until now.

"This is the difference between Prabowo and SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) whom people have accused of being indecisive and not firm. Meanwhile, even before his inauguration, Prabowo has expressed his firmness in not causing disturbance if there is no willingness to cooperate," said Bakir.

According to Bakir, Prabowo's statement is not wise. Because people or groups who do not support are part of the right in democracy to prevent arbitrary power and ensure there is always someone in control.