Megawati Calls Ahok 'My Friend', Hasto: Yes, Friends Are Not Related To The Pilgub DKI

Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP Hasto Kristiyanto while giving a press statement at the PDIP Party School, Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, Friday (7/1/2021). (Photo: Syaiful Hakim/Antara)

JAKARTA - PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri named her cadre, Basuki Tjahja Purnama alias Ahok, as a friend at the PDIP 49th Anniversary event.

This moment occurred when Megawati started her speech by greeting a number of figures who were present online. Including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.

"Then there is also my friend Pak Ahok or known as Basuki Tjahja Purnama. I tried to look at the screen but because there were so many people present, I couldn't see one by one," Megawati said at the time.

Regarding the mention of 'my best friend', PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto spoke up. According to him, Megawati has indeed built friendships with many parties.

Not only with Ahok, Hasto said, Megawati also builds friendships with national figures. One of them, the General Chair of the Gerindra Party who is also the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto to other figures including Ahok.

"So the mention of a friend earlier is indeed a friend. Moreover, Pak Ahok is a victim related to the Jakarta election," he said.

After all, during his tenure as Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahok had extraordinary achievements. "Including building a mosque, it's extraordinary. The achievement of decisiveness in various forms of power conspiracies that want to use power to build capital, Pak Ahok understands and has the courage to face it," explained Hasto.

For this reason, Hasto emphasized that Megawati's nickname of 'friend' for Ahok has nothing to do with the upcoming 2024 DKI gubernatorial election contestation.

"So it has nothing to do with the 2024 DKI gubernatorial election. The general chairman's speech was delivered by him as a result of contemplation so that PDIP can provide joint support with the Indonesian people so that we can overcome this pandemic together," he stressed.

However, if in the end, Ahok's name was nominated, it would be Megawati's authority as the General Chair of the PDIP.

"If Mrs. Mega wants to appoint Mr. Ahok, that is Mrs. Mega's authority," he concluded.