TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Mandate Party (PAN) is accused of not being loyal to the government coalition in fully backing President Jokowi.
Head of PAN’s Central Leadership Council, Yandri Susanto, responded by saying that the only person who has the authority to judge his party is President Joko Widodo.
Yandri was responding to the statement issued by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) General Secretary, Hasto Kristiyanto, who suggested PAN be sacked from the coalition. Hasto argues that PAN often takes an opposing stance and half-heartedly supports decisions taken by the government.
Hasto described PAN’s reaction to the recent Government Regulation on banning mass-organization, that was ratified by President Jokowi, as a form of opposition. PAN Chairman, Zulkifli Hasan, recently said that the regulation is not appropriate and should not have been approved by the president.
PAN is also opposed to the government in deciding the percentage of presidential threshold for the 2019 presidential election, the PDI-P politician said. It has been a hot topic of discussion considering that the deliberation between the government and legislators is currently in a deadlock.
PAN is the most recent party that has its member joining the government’s coalition in the Working Cabinet. They originally opposed Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla at the 2014 Presidential Election.
ISTMAN MP | INDRI MAULIDAR