JAKARTA - The Secretary General of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) Said Salahudin is of the opinion that the DPR's approval of the nomination of General Andika Perkasa as TNI Commander is considered to have influenced the map of the 2024 presidential election.
"If so far his name has not appeared in the survey results, then one year in the future I predict the situation may be different," said Said, Sunday, November 7.
General Andika's name, he continued, could appear in the survey results as a potential presidential candidate.
"People just think in a simple way. They will look for a person who according to subjective reasoning has certain skills. Some people like figures with military backgrounds because there is no doubt about the spirit of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. so on," he said.
The characteristics and criteria imagined by the community, said Said, may be considered to be represented by the figure of General TNI Andika Perkasa who is currently the Army Chief of Staff (Kasad).
"So when the survey officers asked who they wanted the presidential candidate to be, the name of the four-star general could be a spontaneous answer for the public as survey respondents," he said.
If people have shown their aspirations through surveys, he said, which political party is ready to carry them, it's just a matter of time.
"But in my opinion, people should not make efforts that seem to encourage General Andika to play politics as long as he is still the TNI Commander," Said said.
This, he continued, was because apart from being unethical, it could also create awkwardness for Andika herself.
At a certain level there will certainly be a bad feeling. On the one hand, his position demands full concentration on strengthening national defense, but on the other hand there are people who want him as a presidential candidate.
"Well, this is where I think people need to be patient by focusing more on supporting him to carry out his duties as TNI Commander as well as possible. Only then will the situation look like in the future," said Said.
He also believes that Andika will stick to Sapta Marga and will never use his position for the sake of the presidential election.
"But if the people want him, what will they say? That's the right of the people that should not be restricted," said Said Salahudin.
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