Ray: Sjafrie’s Emergence Recalls Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the 2004 Presidential Election

JAKARTA - Political observer and Director of Lingkar Madani (Lima) Ray Rangkuti is worried that the emergence of Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on the exchange will repeat the political tragedy of 2004. At that time, said Ray, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) emerged as an opponent of PDIP Ketum Megawati Soekarnoputri in the 2004 presidential election.

In fact, said Ray, SBY at that time was a cabinet minister from President Megawati, namely the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs of Indonesia (2001-2004).

"Is it possible that the tragedy of 2004 will happen? What was the tragedy of 2004? A TNI officer who was a member of the cabinet when asked by Megawati, eh Ente wants to go forward or not? he answered no, but continued to move below to popularize his name," said Ray.

Megawati, said Ray, at that time surrendered and fired SBY from the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. However, Megawati's decision benefited SBY because his name was soaring.

"Give up, Mega Mom, get out of the dismissal, once the dismissal is issued, his name will soar high and he (SBY) will be the first political victim of Mega Mom. Then he (SBY) took the opportunity to form the Democratic Party to advance in the 2004 presidential election against Mega and he (SBY) won," he explained.

Ray admitted that he doubted that SBY's story happened to Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The reason is, the 20-year cycle has passed. However, Ray said, all possibilities can happen in politics so that it is worth waiting for the dynamics ahead of the 2029 presidential election.

"Will the same story happen? Of course not, because the cycle is 20 years, 2004 (SBY incident), now 2026 and now the fight is 2029. So 2029 is 25 years and in Indonesia the political cycle generally occurs every 20 years. Will Sjafrie do a 20-year cycle like SBY did in 2004, we'll wait for the date to play," concluded Ray.