Not Attending The Awarding Of The Mahaputera Star, Gatot Nurmantyo Is Considered To Raise Prestige For 2024

JAKARTA - Former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo refused to attend the embedding of the Bintang Mahaputera award at the State Palace.

Seeing this, PKB politician Abdul Kadir Karding viewed Gatot's absence as a political stance. Gatot is considered to want to raise his image as an opposition to the capital for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election.

"Kan Pak Gatot for 2024 is still possible. So, if he then thinks politically, I think it is natural. Maybe by not accepting this, there will be additional political energies that can solidify the next steps," Karding said in the discussion. virtual, Sunday, November 15th.

Even so, this member of Commission I DPR RI regretted the attitude of Gatot who was reluctant to attend the Palace but did not express his attitude of rejecting the award.

According to Karding, Gatot does not need to worry that the public will judge him to be softened by receiving the award. Because, this award was given by the state, not President Joko Widodo independently.

"Pak Gatot must be able to distinguish Pak Jokowi personally and as a country. This Mahaputera star is a gift from the state, not Mr Jokowi. Then the one who handed over Pak Jokowi, because he is the president," explained Karding.

"If that way of thinking, it is not proportional as a leader. If I were in that position, I would come to accept and remain a critical position of the government. It is more elegant," he added.

Previously, Gatot Nurmantyo chose not to attend the Mahaputera Star award ceremony by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) which was held at the State Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, November 11.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the absence of former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo at the Mahaputera Star embedding event did not mean there was rejection. He said that through a letter sent by Gatot to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), it was stated that he still stated that he had received this service mark.

"Of the many people who were awarded the Mahaputra Star, there were those who were not present, namely Mr. Gatot Nurmantyo but in his letter, Mr. Gatot stated that he accepted this service but he could not attend for several reasons," Mahfud told reporters as broadcast on the Secretariat YouTube account. President, Wednesday, November 11.

The first reason for Gatot's absence was that the award was given in the atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mahfud, this reason is not quite right because the palace as the implementer of this service mark has tried to comply with standard health protocols.

The second reason, Mahfud said, Gatot felt that this service mark was not commonly given in November because usually this kind of giving was done in August.