Puan's Billboards Are Scattered At The Mount Semeru Eruption Location, PDIP Faction Leader: If You Don't Like It, Please See What It Means

PDIP Faction Chairman Utut Adianto (Photo: DOK VOI/Nailin In Saroh)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PDIP faction, Utut Adianto, responded to criticism over the display of billboards by the chairman of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, at the site of the Mount Semeru eruption during a visit to Lumajang, East Java. He assessed that the billboard installation was a form of spontaneous support for Puan.

"There may have been spontaneity from Mrs. Puan's friends attending, usually it's either cadres or close people, volunteers if the intentions are good", said Utut at the House of Representatives Building, Senayan, Wednesday, December 22.

"Well, if there's something you don't like, for example, please see what it means. That's the point", he continued.

Questioning that there was an assumption that Puan's billboard was displayed but no PDIP cadres had gone to the disaster-affected location, Utut also defended it. According to him, members of the House of Representatives from the PDIP, especially the East Java electoral district, will definitely take part directly.

"If you go there, there must be a lot. Let alone the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, for example, Mr. Arteria Dahlan in the electoral district, Mr. Arif Wibowo usually orders him to come down directly", said Utut.

Previously, the Indonesian Parliamentary Concerned Community Forum (Formappi) criticized the display of billboards by the chairman of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, in locations affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru, Lumajang, East Java. Along with Puan's visit to the Pronojiwo area, Lumajang, to directly observe the disaster-affected locations.

Previously, Formappi researcher Lucius Karus admitted that he was confused by the move by the Chairman of the PDIP Central Executive Board. The reason is that Puan is considered to have no empathy for her political desire to run for the 2024 presidential election.

"It's just confusing for Puan to display herself on billboards in the disaster area. If the billboards are for her self-image, obviously it won't work. How can it be difficult for people to think about politics and the ambitions of politicians on the billboards?", Lucius said when confirmed by VOI on Tuesday, December 21.

Even though it is clear, continued Lucius, that as a disaster area, the potential billboards will be in the public spotlight. And more open because many volunteers and the media are passing by in the disaster area.

Politician banners, he said, would be food to make fun of politicians who actually took advantage of disasters to gain popularity.

"So as a political strategy, the installation of billboards clearly doesn't make sense. Instead of achieving goals, these billboards will actually hinder Puan from achieving her goals", said Lucius.

"As Chair of the House of Representatives, the installation of Puan's billboards also disturbs the image of the House of Representatives as a representative institution. This institution should be at the forefront of providing a quick response through policy assistance from the government to overcome the impact of disasters", he continued.

According to Lucius, the House of Representatives must be present with all its sincerity as part of the people to feel the suffering of the people because of the disaster but at the same time. As a representative of the people, he said, the House of Representatives should not be lost in grief because it has to think about how to bring back the affected people so that they can immediately live normal lives.

"The lady as the Speaker of the House of Representatives should be an example of genuine caring politics. She must be present with all her empathy", said Lucius.