Analyzing The Impact Of Cak Imin's Statement That PBNU Did Not Influence 13 Million Votes Of PKB Voters

Muhaimin Iskandar/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The relationship between PKB and PBNU became increasingly heated after the General Chair of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin said that the words of PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf would not affect the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Because according to Cak Imin, PKB had 13 million solid voters.

Cak Imin's statement gave rise to various perceptions. There are those who say that Cak Imin is dangerous because he can't be supported by NU, but there are also those who think that the voices of Nahdliyin residents will not be lost if the PKB chairman is able to protect him.

So, how do observers analyze the impact of Cak Imin's statement on PBNU's support for PKB?

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that Cak Imin's feud with PBNU would be detrimental to him as chairman and PKB.

According to him, Cak Imin and PKB will be shunned by Nahdliyin residents, the majority of whom are their mass base. If this happens, said Jamiluddin, the electability of Cak Imin and PKB will decrease.

"This will certainly be dangerous for Cak Imin in his bid to become a presidential candidate and the chances of PKB's votes will decrease in the 2024 Pilleg," Jamiluddin told VOI, Tuesday, May 10.

It is even more dangerous, he continued, if Nahdliyin residents who are disappointed in Cak Imin unite with Gusdurian. They will be a force to crush Cak Imin and PKB. "In fact, it is possible that this power can remove Cak Imin from the number one person in PKB. If this happens, then Cak Imin's position as the General Chair of PKB is certainly in danger," said Jamiluddin.

Jamiluddin considered that this condition would decrease Cak Imin's electability. Cak Imin's low electability, he said, would make him less attractive to other parties. "So, Cak Imin's low electability is because he is unable to manage Nahdliyin residents. He is also unable to embrace Gusdurian," he said.

"Unfortunately again, he actually clashed with PBNU. Cak Imin's complete minor notes for Nahdliyin residents. All of this is certainly the cause of the difficulty of Cak Imin's electability being lifted," concluded Jamiluddin Ritonga.

Meanwhile, a political observer from Indonesia's Al Azhar University, Ujang Komarudin, said that the relationship between PKB and PBNU was indeed very close in the past management. Where, PBNU was led by Said Aqil Siradj.

"But the new management is not good, it's not good, let's say it's getting tenser, more hostile," said Ujang to VOI, Tuesday, May 10.

However, Ujang saw that Cak Imin was quite confident with his current mass base. He even said that 13 million votes from PKB voters were enough to lead him to his candidacy.

"Cak Imin is confident because he has held PKB for twenty years. It has been a long time since he has known PKB's voices are everywhere. So maybe even in the context of no support from PBNU, Cak Imin is still confident to get approximately 13 million votes for PKB, "explained Ujang.

"Yes, maybe, we already have a voice base that PKB has been treating for a long time," he added. Ujang considered that if Cak Imin was able to maintain and maintain the voice base of Nahdliyin citizens until the 2024 Simultaneous Elections, then PKB could be safe in the five-year democratic party. However, if they are not taken care of, the voices of the Nahdliyin residents will be damaged and run away.

"It seems that if they are cared for, they are not (damaged, ed) yes, usually when they are cared for, they are given assistance, they are taken care of, it's usually like this. If members of the DPR go down in their respective electoral districts, if they are guarded and cared for, I don't think they will run away. be taken care of, run," concluded Ujang.

PKB: Cak Imin's words are only to encourage cadres

The chairman of the PKB DPP, Daniel Johan, also responded to the statement of the general chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar, who said the words of PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf had no effect on the solidity of the 13 million votes of PKB.

Daniel said Cak Imin's statement did not mean to offend PBNU, but only as an encouragement to PKB cadres.

"It encourages the cadres to continue together and strengthen the grassroots below. There is nothing special," said Daniel Johan to reporters, Tuesday, May 10.

According to him, the role of PBNU remains important for PKB in voting in the 2024 General Election, even for the nation and state.

Daniel also denied that there was tension between PKB and PBNU as a result of Cak Imin's words. PKB and PBNU, he said, would continue to go hand in hand because PKB cadres flow with NU's blood.

"As usual it's fine, PKB cadres are so literate that NU also thinks about it. PKB will continue to work hand in hand with NU, because NU has become the flesh and blood of PKB cadres," said Daniel.

"Even the joke that was popular in PKB was that 'before it was born, it was NU'," he added.

Previously, the chairman of the PKB, Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin, revealed about the 13 million loyal PKB voters in an interview on a television program that aired on Monday, May 9. Cak Imin assessed that the 13 million votes could be his capital to run for the 2024 presidential election.

"Planning PKB is indeed with very solid constituents, it's definitely fixed, we have a voting capital of 13 million, very loyal," said Cak Imin.

"In the survey, all PKB voter polls are loyal. Very solid. All the way to the bottom," he added.

It was so solid, Cak Imin said that the words of PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf had no effect on the loyalty of the 13 million PKB votes. This solidity is capital and I see this capital getting bigger if I run for president," said Cak Imin.