JAKARTA - The Executive Director of the Center for Budget Analysis (CBA), Uchok Sky Khadafi, assessed that Zulkifli Hasan's (Zulhas) position as Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) for the 2024-2029 period is still very strong and difficult to be overthrown by outsiders.
According to Uchok, there is no external force that can shift Zulhas' leadership in PAN. He likened Zulhas' position to an old tree that has very strong roots so that it is not easily uprooted.
"If from outside the PAN Party, no one can shake the position of the PAN General Chair. Zulhas' position is like an old tree whose roots are firmly entangled in the ground, safe from interference from outsiders," said Uchok in his statement, Saturday, June 27.
However, Uchok assessed that Zulhas' biggest challenge could come from within the party itself.
"As the old saying goes, the most solid walls are often hollow from the inside. If you want to seize the throne, don't look for enemies outside, just look for them in your own meeting room," he said.
Uchok then mentioned the name of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, as one of the PAN cadres who he considered had great potential if one day he wanted to run for the position of PAN General Chair.
In addition to serving as Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Trenggono is also the Deputy Chairman of the PAN DPP as well as the Chairman of the Central Java PAN DPW.
According to Uchok, Trenggono has a number of political capital that is considered strong, ranging from social networks to financial capabilities.
"Trenggono has social capital and wealth. That is a difficult ammunition to match if a leadership contest occurs at some point in PAN," he said.
As an illustration, Uchok refers to data from the State-Owned Enterprise Wealth Report (LHKPN) which shows that Trenggono's total wealth reaches around IDR 2.97 trillion.
Meanwhile, he continued, based on LHKPN data, Zulhas' wealth was recorded at around Rp59 billion. Uchok also touched on the wealth report of Zulhas' daughter, Zita Anjani, which he said reached around Rp109.32 billion.
"In terms of wealth alone, Zulhas is not able to keep up with Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. Even if combined with Zita Anjani's wealth, the value is still far below Trenggono," he said.
Despite having a large capital, Uchok assessed that Trenggono is not a figure who will move openly.
"Trenggono is a Javanese, he is smart at playing strategies. He is not the type who screams like the old style. He works quietly, calculates time, waits for the right momentum. When everyone is just aware, his name could have been printed as the General Chairman of PAN," concluded Uchok.
Until this news was written, there was no statement from the PAN, Zulkifli Hasan, or Sakti Wahyu Trenggono regarding the views expressed by Uchok Sky.
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