Highlighting Minister Yandri Cawe-Cawe In Bengkulu Regional Head Election, Observer Says Endorsement Can Be Effective

JAKARTA - A political observer from Al Azhar University, Jakarta, Ujang Komarudin, highlighted allegations of the ministers of the Red and White Cabinet in the 2024 Pilkada. In this case, the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, who is suspected of not being neutral as a state apparatus by campaigning for the Helmi Hasan-Mi pair in the 2024 Bengkulu Pilkada.

Ujang said that government officials who are currently in a neutral position then endorse one of the pairs of candidates for regional head in the regional elections are very vulnerable and have the potential to receive a lot of criticism.

However, according to Ujang, it is not necessarily the pair of candidates for regional heads who are endorsed by government officials who are effective in increasing their electability.

"Endorse can be effective or not. Yes, if it is not accompanied by candidates going to the field, by those who endorse it, it could not be effective," said Ujang, Saturday, November 16.

Previously, the Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, Yandri Susanto, was suspected of having non-neutral behavior or chaos as a state apparatus by campaigning for the Helmi Hasan-Mi'an pair in the 2024 Bengkulu Pilkada.

This can be seen in the video circulating, where Yandri openly supported Helmi Hasan-Mi'an during his working visit to Bengkulu on 9-11 November.

In the video, Yandri said the support he gave was his reward to Hilmi Hasan, the chairman of the Bengkulu National Mandate Party (PAN) DPD who is also the older brother of Helmi Hasan. Apart from Hilmi Hasan, Helmi is also the younger brother of the Coordinating Minister (Menko) Pangan, Zulkifli Hasan.

"Please support (for) the older brother of Hilmi Hasan, Chairman of PAN Bengkulu Province. Hilmi Hasan also encouraged me to become a minister a lot," he said, quoted from a video that went viral in Bengkulu, on Monday, November 11.

Yandri also boasted that he knew and was close to a number of high-ranking state officials, including President Prabowo Subianto. This was allegedly done by Yandri to influence voters in the Bengkulu Pilkada to provide their support to the Helmi Hasan-Mian pair.

"I mentioned earlier, my relationship is now very strong. The Minister knows many, the President can speak directly, with the TNI Commander near, the National Police Chief is close, the Attorney General is close. So please, let's help Bengkulu together," he said.

Apart from being blatant, Yandri also repeatedly used the name of President Prabowo Subianto, as if hinting at the Helmi Hasan-Mian pair also received support from the number one person in Indonesia.

"And of course (the pair) proposed by PAN, approved by Pak Prabowo as president," added Yandri.

The 2024 Bengkulu Pilkada was attended by two pairs of candidates, Helmi Hasan-Mi'an and Rohidin Mersyah-Meriani.

Helmi Hasan-Mi'an was promoted by 6 political parties, namely PAN, PDIP, Gerindra, Democrats, PKB and Gelora.

Meanwhile, Rohidin Mersyah-Meriani was supported by 8 political parties, namely Golkar, Hanura, PKS, PPP, PBB, PSI, Garuda and Perindo parties.