Amien Rais Talks About New Party, Observer: For Waves Test

Amien Rais (Foto: Instagram @amienraisofficial)

JAKARTA - Through a four-minute video, former Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais explained about the outlines of his new party, which is said to be called PAN Reformasi. However, this party has not been declared.

A political observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Aisah Putri Budiarti, said that Amien Rais was in the middle of a wave test. This was done to see the extent to which the public responded to his new party which had not yet been declared.

"To test the waves, to what extent will this party get a public response and of course future support to prepare for the formation of this new party," Putri said during a conversation with VOI, Friday, September 11.

He considered that Amien Rais understood that forming a new party would be difficult. Moreover, there are many administrative requirements that must be met.

This then led the reformist figure to try to close the ranks of his supporters and loyalists as well as other wider circles. "Especially Islamic groups that clearly seem to be the target of the constituents of this party," he said.

"Therefore, in my opinion, slowly this party has begun its strategy to attract attention and support. This support is important as the basis for party formation, especially in the regions," he added.

In addition to the wave test, this video was intentionally released to show PAN and loyalists Zulkifli Hasan that the discourse on the formation of a new party was correct and not just a plan or even a hallucination, as stated by the Chairman of the PAN DPP who is also his son, Mumtaz Raiz.

In line with Putri, the Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, also considered that Amien Rais deliberately released the video to respond to his skepticism about the formation of the new party.

"Amien Rais would like to say that his new party is currently on the way, in progress towards a declaration. This announcement also proves that he is serious about establishing a new party after being expelled from PAN," said Ujang.

"For AR (Amien Rais), his new party is a necessity. So it must be fought for and it must exist as a means of political struggle to gain power constitutionally through elections," he added.

Previously, former Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais gave a leak about his party. According to him, his new party will have a slogan against injustice and is based on Islam Rahmatan Lil Alamin.

This was conveyed by Amien through a 4 minute 35 second video uploaded to his YouTube account, Amien Rais Official.

"The principle of our party is Islam Rahmatan Lil Alamin. Islam prohibits discrimination against anything. Meanwhile, our motto is against injustice and uphold justice," Amien said as quoted from a video uploaded on Thursday, September 10.

The former chairman of the MPR RI said that this new party was formed because many people felt that there was a need for a new movement. He said those who joined the party agreed that Indonesia was currently on the verge of a crisis ranging from a social crisis to a worsening economic crisis leading to recession and depression.

Furthermore, regarding the logo to the statutes of the party, Amien asked all parties to be patient. This is because he and a number of names who are members of the party are still in deliberation to determine the right time and date to launch this party.

"We ourselves are in deliberation and this is what I can convey first. What is clear, do not forget our principle later Islam Rahmatan Lil Alamin. Fight injustice and uphold justice," he said at the end of the video.