Gerindra Denies Prabowo's Demand for Ministerial Positions
17 April 2018 22:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gerindra Party Deputy Chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad denied the news that Prabowo Subianto had asked for a number of ministerial positions if he is elected as vice-president candidate for Joko Widodo. According to Sufmi the news was not true.
"If Pak Prabowo is willing to be the vice president of Jokowi, then asked for some ministerial positions, that is not true," said Sufmi at the Parliament Complex on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
Earlier, the Asia Times reported on Sunday, April 15, 2018, that John McBeth, a New Zealand journalist who had served in Indonesia, revealed the meeting of Luhut Binsar Panjaitan and Prabowo Subianto. McBeth wrote that Prabowo was willing to be given the authority in the military and seven positions in the cabinet.
Hearing Prabowo's request, McBeth revealed that Luhut objected. McBeth however, did not explain in detail about the request of the ministerial positions demanded by Prabowo. At the Presidential Palace on Monday, April 16, 2018, Luhut was reluctant to respond to the news when asked by reporters about the meeting with Prabowo.
Sufmi said that Prabowo's meeting with Luhut was not the first time. According to Sufmi, such visit was normal because Prabowo and Luhut are fellow former National Army (TNI) officer.
Another Gerindra's Deputy Chairman Fadli Zon also denied the report of Prabowo requesting seven ministerial positions.
"I do not think it's true, it's a lie, the meeting is reasonable, but there is no story about seven ministerial positions," Fadli said.
ARKHELAUS WISNU TRIYOGO
