SBY: Democrat Party Is Not For Sale

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Chairman of the Democrat Party’s High Council, asked outsiders not to interfere with his party's internal affairs, let alone attempting to oust Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) from the latter’s position as the party chair.

“I say this clearly and firmly that the Democrat Party is not for sale. Our party is not for sale, even though it is not a rich party. We are not tempted by your money no matter how much,” he said in a video broadcast via the party’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, February 24.

Yudhoyono stated that the movement targeting to take over the leadership of the Democrat Party was aimed at replacing AHY with outsiders who were not the party cadres. This sixth Indonesian president added that the outsiders had conspired with a handful of troubled cadres and former Democrat politicians.

He believed that the list of names trying to take over the party included Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.

Additionally, Yudhoyono believed that the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Budi Gunawan were also involved in the movement. 

“The Democrat Party keeps believing that these officials have integrity and has completely no idea, and it makes no sense that they want to disturb the Democrat Party,” said SBY.

Also Read: Moeldoko Asserts Respect over SBY after Being Accused of 'Political Meddling'

ADAM PRIREZA