PDIP Doesn't Support Candidates in West Sumatra Pilgub, Observer: Better than Being Rejected

JAKARTA - The PDI-P decision to withdraw from the West Sumatra Governor Election (Pilgub) is considered correct. It is said that PDIP has no other choice after returning the recommendation for support.

"Because it has been rejected, returned, it has to be accepted. There is no other choice. So (resigning, red) is indeed the right step," said a political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Political Research Center, Firman Noor, to VOI, Monday, 7 September.

Moreover, he considered that PDIP could have been rejected by other candidates, if they forced themselves to provide support. This rejection could occur after the Chairperson of the PDI-P DPP, Puan Maharani, conveyed her statement about the hope that West Sumatra would become a province that supports Pancasila. This statement led to controversy.

"If they forced it, it might be risky and even more embarrassing. It means that if they want to give recommendations to another pair," he said.

Meanwhile, the political observer and Executive Director of the Voxpol Center for Research and Consulting, Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, assessed that the PDIP decision occurred because Puan's statement was considered cornering the people of West Sumatra.

In the aftermath, Mulyadi-Ali Mukhni returned the recommendation. "If Puan didn't convey the statement, maybe Mulyadi would still accept PDIP to support him. It is a cause and effect," said Pangi.

Previously, the Chairperson of the West Sumatra PDIP DPD, Alex Indra Lukman, stated that his party didn't nominate anyone in the 2020 Regional Elections in West Sumatra.

"We are not carrying a candidate pair, which means being absent from the Pilgub process. Regarding support, of course, we are waiting for the DPP Party's instructions," Alex told reporters, Sunday, September 6.

Alex said the absence of PDIP in the West Sumatra Election was decided after the candidate for Governor of West Sumatra, Mulyadi, returned the recommendation file for PDIP support (form B1KWK).

"Yesterday, the candidate pair representation returned the B1KWK to us. Thus, this chaotic drama has reached its end. The PDI-P DPD, in this case, will not participate in the 2020 Pilgub," said Alex.

Even so, the attitude of being absent in the West Sumatra Election is not a.atter of winning or losing. But, itis to maintain political values.

"We are not involved in this problem. Since the beginning of the pandemic until now and in the future, West Sumatra PDI Perjuangan will continue to work together to carry out social services to ease the burden on the affected community," he said.