Surya Paloh Denies His Son's Issue Of Being Jokowi's Minister In Today's Memory, August 14, 2019

Prananda Paloh and his father, Surya Paloh at the Nasdem Party event. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memori hari ini, enam tahun yang lalu, 14 Agustus 2019, Ketua Umum Partai Nasdem, Surya Paloh tewas isu anaknya, Prananda Paloh menjadi menteri dalam Kabinet Kerja Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin. Surya menganggap anaknya belum cocok dan masih kurang pengalaman di dunia politik.

Previously, Surya and the Nasdem Party were loyal supporters of the Jokowi-Ma'ruf pair in the 2019 Presidential Election. Nasdem was active as Jokowi's campaigner. As a result, Jokowi-Ma'ruf became President and Vice President of Indonesia was elected.

The 2019 presidential election has again become a prestige bet for two major parties. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), which again nominated Jokowi. The Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) again nominated Prabowo Subianto.

The two presidential candidates are not new names. Jokowi and Prabowo have fought in the 2014 presidential election. This condition made the fight between the two worth waiting for again. In the past, there were not many supports for other parties for Jokowi.

Prabowo is actually flooded with support from big parties such as Golkar and PAN. This time the conditions are different. Jokowi is the incumbent 'President of Indonesia'. The popularity is considered still high. This condition makes the political map of support to the presidential candidate change.

Big parties such as Golkar actually joined in supporting Jokowi. There is also another party that remains loyal to support Jokowi from the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. The party is Nasdem. Surya Paloh and Nasdem consider Jokowi the right person to lead Indonesia again.

Nasdem considered that the first period of Jokowi's administration had brought great success. This condition made Nasdem interested in returning to support Jokowi.

"NasDem is consistent. In the past, politics was unconditional. This is also unconditional politics. We provide support until (Jokowi) wins it. This needs to be followed up. So it is necessary for us to continue that support."

"And we believe Pak Jokowi is much more experienced than before. Three years of rule, has received input, has participated in regional and global regulations," said Secretary General of the NasDem Party Jhonny G. Plate, as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, April 3, 2018.

Surya Paloh and Nasdem also gave Jokowi freedom in determining his representative. Later Jokowi chose the General Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Ma'ruf Amin as vice presidential candidate. Jokowi's brilliant results were able to once again beat Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential election.

Surya was dissolved in joy. However, many consider the support of Surya and Nasdem not unconditionally. The Nasdem issue proposed the name of Surya's son, Prananda Paloh as a ministerial candidate to be broadcast everywhere.

Prananda, who is a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, is considered to be part of the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Working Cabinet for the 2019-2024 Period. Surya also firmly dismissed the issues circulating on August 14, 2019. Surya considers his son not suitable to be a minister.

Surya views Prananda as still a new person in the world of politics. Prananda needs a lot of experience in the world of politics, instead of directly becoming a minister. Surya's confirmation made the issue subside.

Nasdem also still sends his cadres to become ministers, but not Prananda. They are Johnny G. Plate as Minister of Communication and Information, Syahrul Yasin Limpo as Minister of Agriculture, and Siti Nurbaya Bakar as Minister of Environment and Forestry.

"Oh Prananda? My son, I see, this is important for you to hear, Prananda is my son, he is manly, but not suitable to be a minister. That's my view, if Nanda wants to, go ahead, but let's focus on the council first," said Surya as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, August 14, 2019.