Aswaja Group Snubs Sandiaga Uno's Campaign in Sampang

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A group of people dubbing themselves as the Indonesian Aswaja Paramilitary Unit of Sampang Regency has rejected the campaign of vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno in Sampang, Madura, East Java—according to an open letter dated January 1 received by Tempo.

The first paragraph in the letter reads, “With the grace of Allah SWT, we, the Indonesian Aswaja Paramilitary Unit of Sampang Regency, officially refused the arrival of Sandiaga Uno in Sampang Regency.” 

The letter also elucidated three reasons behind the rejection: they viewed Sandiaga as a leader candidate who was beset by sins of morality, social-ecological sins, and sins of corruption. 

First, the group recalled the moment when Sandiaga Uno accidentally stepped over the grave of a Nahdalatul Ulama (NU) founder, KH Bisri Syansuri, in his visit at the Denanyar Islamic boarding school in East Java. The group deems this attitude as a lack of knowledge and respect for the country’s local wisdom. 

Read: Sandiaga Uno Sells Company Share to Fund Presidential Campaign

“Stepping over an ulema’s grave proves that Sandiaga Uno certainly does not understand Indonesia’s culture and traditions,” said the letter. 

The second reason is Sandiaga’s social-ecological sins committed through its mining company that spoiled some 900 hectares of green lands in Tumpang Pitu, Banyuwangi, East Java. 

Third, Sandiaga Uno is the commissioner of PT Duta Graha Indah, which was later  renamed as PT Nusa Konstruksi Enjiniring (NKE), that the Corruption Eradication Commission has been named suspect in a graft case worth billions of rupiahs involving a number of governmental projects.

“This is an indication that Sandiaga Uno, as a future possible leader, can be suspected of having committed the sins of corruption and thus cannot be relied on to rid Indonesia of corruption," said the letter. 

RYAN DWIKY ANGGRIAWAN