Reluctant To Be Linked Again With Anas Urbaningrum, Democrat: If You Feel Criminalized, Demand The KPK

Coordinator of the Democratic Party Spokesperson Herzaky Mahendra Putra. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Democrat Party refuses to be linked again with the former chairman of the convicted corruption case, Anas Urbaningrum. The party bearing the Mercy Star symbol said it no longer had a problem with Anas. This was confirmed by the Coordinator of the Democratic Party Spokesperson Herzaky Mahendra Putra in response to Anas' release this month. Herzaky denied that the Democrats criminalized Anas in the Hambalang case. According to him, it was the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) that arrested Anas, not his party.

"If you say criminalization, he has nothing to do with the KPK. Yes, just demand the KPK, who used to be the chairman of the KPK who gave him? Go ahead. We have nothing to do with it at all," said Herzaky at the DPP Democrat Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Monday, April 3. Instead, continued Herzaky, Anas, who had destroyed the electability of the Democratic Party, which at that time was at its highest level.

"Because of their actions, and their gangs damaged the Democrats when they were in high electability. It's not easy to recover," said Herzaky.

Herzaky said, due to the corruption case involving Anas, the Democratic Party experienced a significant decline in electability. However, he said, thanks to the performance of the Chairman of the High Council of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and the Chairman of Democrats AHY, currently the solidity of the Democrats is maintained.

"Mr. SBY can withstand the decline (electability), but in the era of Mas AHY can improve again. It can be reconciled, there is consolidation, there is regeneration, what is the result? This Democrat (born) a new generation," he explained. The convict of the Hambalang project corruption case, Anas Urbaningrum is rumored to be released from the Sukamiskin Penitentiary (Lapas) Bandung, West Java on Monday, April 10, 2023. A number of former ministers and members of the DPR are reportedly going to pick up Anas at the prison during his release.

"Some former Cabinet Ministers, members of the Indonesian House of Representatives have told us to come pick them up," said National Coordinator Sahabat Anas Urbaningrum, Muhammad Rahmad when confirmed, Sunday, April 2.

However, Rahmad was reluctant to reveal who the former ministers and members of the DPR would pick up Anas Urbaningrum. The reason is, the former ministers and members of the DPR asked to keep their identities secret.

"He asked us not to mention names first. We'll see when welcoming," he said.