Mahfud MD To Denny Indrayana: I Assign You To Take Care Of Anies For Democracy To Live And No Longer Accuse The Government

JAKARTA - Minister of Politics, Law and Security (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD admitted that he was offered to be a candidate for vice president (cawapres) accompanying Anies Baswedan. However, Mahfud chose to reject the offer.

"To Mr. Syaikhu, when he went home with Al Muzzammil, he explored to find Anies' vice presidential candidate, among others, asking, 'Is Mr. Mahfud willing or not? (I answered) no," Mahfud said at the Jakarta Presidential Palace on Monday, June 5, confiscated by Antara.

The Syaikhu Mahfud meant was the President of PKS, while the Al Muzzammil in question was Al Muzzammil Yusuf, a PKS politician who served as a member of the DPR.

Mahfud MD also explained his message to former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Denny Indrayana regarding the 2024 General Election.

"Denny said that he was assigned by Mr. Mahfud to protect Anies so that democracy would live and he got a ticket, indeed because he (Denny) always accused the government of wanting to tackle Anies. Accusing that there was also an attempt to thwart the election, extend, postpone elections. If that's the case for the task, 'I assign you to guard Anies, so that democracy lives and no longer accuses the government', that's what I mean," Mahfud explained.

According to Mahfud, if Denny Indrayana thinks there is an attempt to thwart the election, then Denny should report it directly to Mahfud.

"If there are people, the government, individuals, yes, tell me. So I will guard the election. Don't be accused of wanting to fail the election. I will guard the election so that the election becomes, divide the task and I will give Denny the task," added Mahfud.

However, Mahfud's reason for rejecting the offer paired with Anies Baswedan was because Mahfud considered Anies to be supported by parties that could apply for their own vice presidential candidate.

"I said, because in the father's coalition there are NasDem, Democrats and PKS, there are many candidates from their own parties. If I am invited to go there, I will destroy democracy, if one comes out because you invite me it will be damaged. That's why I told the chairman of PKS, keep the coalition, don't invite me into so that the coalition doesn't break," said Mahfud.

Mahfud also said that he not only asked Denny to maintain democracy, but also asked other figures.

"It's not just Denny that I assigned, friends who support Anies, I said 'take care'. There are many of my friends who are supporters, he takes care of it, even though I don't support it, I still maintain democracy. That's right," said Mahfud.

Currently, there are three names of presidential candidates sticking out to take part in the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres), namely the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo who was promoted by the PDI-P (PDIP) and the United Development Party (PPP).

Furthermore, former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was declared by the NasDem Party, Demokat Party and PKS.

Finally, there is the name of the Minister of Defense who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, proposed by the Gerindra Party who is also in a coalition with the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Registration for presidential and vice presidential candidates is scheduled for October 19, 2023 to November 25, 2023.

Based on Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections (UU Pemilu), pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates are proposed by political parties or coalitions of political parties participating in the election who meet the requirements for obtaining seats of at least 20 percent of the total seats in the DPR or obtaining 25 percent of the nationally valid votes in the previous election for members of the DPR.

Currently, there are 575 seats in parliament so that the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs in the 2024 presidential election must have at least 115 seats in the DPR. It could also be that the candidate pairs are promoted by political parties or a combination of political parties participating in the 2019 Election with a total valid vote acquisition of at least 34,992,703 votes.