TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hasan Nasbi uttered some threatening words when Tempo met him at his office in South Jakarta last Tuesday. The Cyrus Network CEO said he was uncomfortable being interviewed about the funds allegedly contributed by the land reclamation developers to the Friends of Ahok organization, reportedly channeled through his political consultancy agency. "It would be nice if you wrote that," he said, "so I can sue you after."
Hasan denied Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Junimart Girsang's statement that he had received Rp30 billion. He did not react when Tempo told them that the information had reached the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), after one of his subordinates testified on April 15. Tempo reporters Anton Aprianto, Wayan Agus Purnomo and Prihandoko recently spoke to Hasan.
Is it true you met Sunny and Ahok at the Jakarta Governor's Office to discuss the gubernatorial elections in 2017 and the formation of the Friends of Ahok network
There was no such thing. I do meet Ahok from time to time. We talk about three times a month. I once told Sunny, "What if we try putting Ahok as an independent candidate?" Sunny and I were daydreaming. We are allowed to daydream, aren't we?
We were informed that the initial idea was to make Friends of Ahok a bargaining tool so that he would be approached by parties, particularly the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P).
They were the ones who wanted Ahok to run independently. I'm flexible about it-either way is fine. Here's the thing: Two options came up at the same time, but what I had planned was not in line with what showed up around March, April. Because Friends of Ahok became excited, I helped them.
Did you take part in preparing the proposal of Friends of Ahok's establishment, which required an initial funding of Rp24 billion and which was increased to Rp30 billion?
I'm really not happy with the way you are asking me questions. The proposal was made by someone I fired. He made it to show his dedication-as he just entered Cyrus. I don't know the exact amount he wrote, maybe it's more than Rp20 billion.
In the proposal that was made in December 2014, is there a budget allocation for collecting ID cards and a consultancy fee for a total of Rp24.2 billion?
I guarantee there was no such thing. The proposal did not say anything about posko (command posts) and all those things. I cannot even imagine it. (*)
Read full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
