Not A National Figure, Buni Yani Is Considered To Have No Influence To Join The Ummat Party

JAKARTA - Political observer Andriadi Achmad believes that the inclusion of a former convict for the spread of hate speech, Buni Yani, to Amien Rais' Ummat Party has had little effect on the development of the party. Because Buni Yani is not a figure who can be calculated to vote in the general election.

"In my opinion, the joining of Buni Yani activists will not have a significant influence on the Ummat Party. Because Buni Yani is not a national figure who is counted on", said Andriadi when contacted by VOI, Friday, March 5.

According to Andriadi, conditions would be very different if a figure joined the Ummat Party such as former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo or former Chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Syamsuddin.

"It will certainly have a significant influence, considering that these figures have loyalists and followers", he explained.

The Executive Director of the Political Communication Studies and Research Center (PolCom ARC) said that the Ummat Party, which was initiated by reformation figure Amien Rais, should have stood up immediately to participate in the 2024 elections.

"It must be established 2.5 years before the election", said Andriadi.

Apart from that, he continued, Amien Rais must also recruit other national figures to join.

"In Indonesia in general, political parties still depend on the central figure in maintaining the continuity of the political parties. For example, the PDIP is still very strongly influenced by Megawati", said Andriadi.

Likewise, Gerindra is identified with Prabowo Subianto, Nasdem with Surya Paloh, or even Perindo led by Hary Tanoesoedibjo. There is also a strong Hanura chaired by Oesman Sapta Odang (OSO), which was previously initiated by Wiranto.

"Only a few political parties do not depend on central figures such as PKS, PPP, Golkar, PSI, and others. Or the Gelora Party, namely Anis Matta and Fahri Hamzah. As well as PAN, Zulkifli Hasan. This means that in the future, the Ummat Party must have a central figure besides Amien Rais", he explained.

Needing Capital, Amien Rais Predicted to Fail to Raise the Ummat Party

Apart from being prominent, establishing a political party also requires large financial funds, as did Hary Tanoesodibjo, Surya Paloh, or Tomy Soeharto in the Berkarya Party. Or it is possible to establish a political party to get financial donations from founders or donors, such as the establishment of PAN, Democrat, PKS.

"It takes not only social capital, capital for the popularity of founding figures, but it takes a large amount of capital in mobilizing the establishment of the Board of Directors at the Provincial Level throughout Indonesia", said Andriadi.

If the Ummat Party wants to exist or stand and pass the parliamentary threshold without the strength of a figure, even lacking financial capital, Andriadi admits that he is worried that Amien Rais will not be able to establish the Ummat Party.

"I am worried that Amien Rais will fail to establish the Ummat Party", said Andriadi.