Reasons For PDIP Not To Take Akhyar To Pilwalkot In Medan: Ambition Of Power And Legal Factors

Akhyar Nasution / kanan (Photo. Dok. Malo M / VOI)

JAKARTA - The PDI Perjuangan DPP finally gave recommendations to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) 's son-in-law Bobby Nasution rather than to his former cadre who is currently serving as the Acting Mayor of Medan, Akhyar Nasution. He said the decision to "leave" Akhyar Nasution was taken after the PDIP conducted a political mapping.

"We did a political mapping, we listened to the aspirations of the community. Well, based on a study conducted by Mr. Djarot Saiful Hidayat as chairman of the PDI-P North Sumatra Regional Representative Council, we see that there are allegations related to issues that make him (Akhyar Nasution, ed) unable to be nominated, "PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said in an online press conference, Tuesday, August 11.

"Apart from the ambition of power, there are indications of allegations related to the legal factor," he added.

Furthermore, Hasto said, since the beginning, PDIP was committed not to nominate those who have legal problems in the 2020 Pilkada, especially in Medan City. They took this step after the community took the spotlight on this city because dozens of DPRD members had just been arrested for their involvement in a bribery and gratuity case that ensnared North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho.

"That is why the party is committed to never nominating those who have potential legal issues," he said.

It is known that Akhyar Nasution was questioned last June by the North Sumatra Regional Police regarding the investigation of a suspected corruption case in the 2020 Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) activity which took up a budget of IDR 4.7 billion.

Even though he was not promoted by the PDIP and was fired as a cadre, Akhyar Nasution continued to run in the Medan Pilwalkot supported by the Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). These two political parties carry Akhyar and PKS cadre Salman Alfarisi.

Previously, PDIP Ketum Megawati Soekarnoputri decided to fire Akhyar Nasution from party membership. Akhyar is considered to have committed disciplinary actions.

Akhyar Nasution's dismissal was contained in the PDIP DPP Decree number 29-A / KPTS-DPD / DPP / VIII / 2020, regarding adjustments to the structure and composition of the PDI Perjuangan DPD in North Sumatra Province for the 2019-2024 term. This letter was signed by Megawati and PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto on August 3.

The point of dismissal of Akhyar Nasution, who is currently acting as Mayor of Medan, is listed in point 9. "PDI Perjuangan DPP decision letter number 44 / KTPS / DPP / VIII / 2020, dated August 1, 2020 regarding the dismissal of Ir Akhyar Nasution from membership of the PDI Perjuangan," Such is the point in the decree which is valid since August 1.