Jokowi, Prabowo Group Hug Met with Positivity from PDIP Official

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto could not contain his joy upon witnessing first-hand the moment when pencak silat gold medalist Hanifan Yudani Kusuma initiated a group hug with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto yesterday.

“Let us learn the values of sports that puts forward sportsmanship, honesty, and rule adhering. Instead of attacking each other without regard to the values of civilization,” said Hasto on Wednesday.

Hasto further said that political elites and society as a whole can learn from the national sporting world. Prabowo Subianto, who acted as the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association Chairman, shared the stage as a guest at the Asian Games event on Wednesday, August 29, with other political elites.

Hasto who was precisely behind both Jokowi and Prabowo when the group hug took place maintained that it is moments such as these that can sooth the country’s competitive political climate, “In reality, sport can unite us,” he said.

The hug was a spontaneous reaction from Hanifan Yudani after successfully defeating silat athlete from Vietnam, Nguyen Thai Linh. Hanifan, who wrapped himself with an Indonesian red and white flag, went up to the VVIP grandstand where Jokowi and Prabowo were seated together with other state officials.

The group’s hug was met with outstanding cheers and thundering applause from the thousands of audience and state officials that were present. As it is commonly known, Jokowi and Prabowo had been political rivals since the 2014 election and is set to meet again in the 2019 presidential election.

DEWI NURITA