Muhaimin: My Plan Influences Mas AHY, But His Faith Is Strong

Democratic Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono And PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi

BOGOR - Chairman of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) conveyed his plan to persuade the Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to form a coalition. But the mission has not been successful because the Democratic leadership is considered to remain steadfast in joining the Coalition for Change.

Cak Imin, during a press conference after meeting with the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and continuing a one-on-one meeting with AHY, said he really wanted to increase the number of political parties in the coalition.

"Indeed, from the start I had the desire to continue to develop the coalition. One of them is to increase the number of KKIR coalitions with KIB. Indeed, one of my agenda is an effort to influence parties, including my plan to influence Mas AHY. But after meeting him, it turns out that his faith is strong, because his faith is strong I have to be careful talking about it," said Cak Imin in response to reporters' questions during a press conference at the residence of SBY Pendopo Puri Cikeas, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 3.

However, he still hopes that the Democrats can consider an offer to join the grand coalition made by Cak Imin and General Chairperson of Golkar Airlangga Hartarto, who represents the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB).

"We'll just have to wait, hopefully after after I'm from here I'll wobble," said Cak Imin, who was greeted by a boisterous laugh.

According to him, the offer to join the coalition is a common thing in politics.

"His name is also that the coalition must tease each other, who knows, increase friends, especially if they fill each other," he said.

However, AHY dismissed the political maneuvers carried out by PKB and Democrats during a meeting with SBY, and a meeting between him and Muhaimin.

"In the four-eye meeting, there was actually nothing too far away, too much to be considered a decisive political maneuver, because in fact we continue to process, communicate respecting differences, respecting each position," said the Chairman of the Democrats.

He explained that representatives of PKB and Democrats in Cikeas prioritized political ethics in meetings, meaning that the parties respected the position and choice of their respective coalitions.

"We both prioritize ethics. We both know we both have standards (positions, ed) at this time. I am in the Change Coalition, PKB at KKIR (Indonesia Raya Awakening Coalition). We respect each other, and I think that's very good," said AHY.

The General Chairperson of the PKB and several central officials visited the residence of the Chairman of the Upper House of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java.

The elite PKB also held a meeting with SBY with the Chairman of the Democratic Party AHY and the board of the party for more than 1 hour. After the meeting, Muhaimin and AHY continued to meet four eyes in discussions, including national political issues.