Talking About Puan-Anies' Support, Minister Bahlil Lahadalia Is Considered To Have An Investment Argument

Statement of the Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia /DOK VOI- Mery Handyani

JAKARTA - Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia's statement about supporting the Puan Maharani-Anies Baswedan pair has brought pros and cons. Puan Maharani's party also reminded Bahlil not to talk about the presidential election because of his capacity as an assistant to the president.

So, is it ethical for Bahlil as a minister to talk about the presidential election?

IPO political communication observer Dedi Kurnia Syah assessed that Bahlil's statement was legitimate to comment on the cawapres candidate. According to him, Bahlil's remarks when commenting on the survey results have their own arguments for the investment world.

"Bahlil talking about Puan-Anies's candidacy is more about a professional statement considering the current political situation, and it's legal, nothing has been violated through that statement, nor does it reduce her integrity as a member of the cabinet," said Dedi to VOI, Wednesday, July 13.

"He spoke in a forum that was related to the political constellation, if you want to be in depth, Bahlil's statement has an investment argument," he continued.

According to Dedi, the argument is about Bahlil's views regarding efforts to stop political polarization. From Bahlil's point of view, he said, Puan is considered to have a big chance to reduce the polarization if she meets Anies Baswedan.

"Moreover, Puan has a decent and well-established leadership capacity. The party network she has can trigger a candidacy meeting with Anies Baswedan as her vice presidential candidate, also because Anies has been considered close to political Islam groups. "Anies is a gap to stop the polarization that has been building up, the two will complement each other," said Dedi.

As a minister, Bahlil is considered not wrong in talking about who the vice presidential candidate has a chance to win. Because, there was no state loss as a result of Bahlil's statement.

"The offside of a minister is when making policies outside the guidelines of his ministry. As for political statements, they are the same as citizens, have equal rights," said Dedi.

"And this statement about the Puan-Anies presidential candidate is not a prohibited theme, there is no loss to the state after the statement was made," he added.

Previously, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia assessed that the discourse of pairing DPR Chair Puan Maharani and DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan for the 2024 Presidential Election was very good. In fact, according to him, the duo could win the presidential election in one round.

This was conveyed by Bahlil in the release of the Indonesian Political Indicators survey entitled 'Public Evaluation of Government Performance in the Economic, Political, Law Enforcement, and Corruption Eradication Sector' on Monday, July 11.

Initially, the discourse on the Puan-Anies duo was a question for the Executive Director of Political Indicator, Burhanuddin Muhtadi. Before Burhanuddin answered the question, Bahlil then spoke.

"That's a good pair (Puan-Anies) that can be in one round," said Bahlil.

PDI-P's Reaction to Bahlil Supporting Puan-Anies

The chairman of the PDIP Election Winning Body (Bappilu), Bambang Wuryanto, has responded to the statement by Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia that his support for the pair Puan Maharani and Anies Baswedan was realized in the 2024 presidential election. According to Bambang Pacul, as he is familiarly called, Bahlil is the investment minister, so it is not appropriate to talk about the presidential election.

"Mr. Bahlil's standing position now is the minister of investment. Then, does the presidential candidate's statement make sense or not?" said Bambang at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 12.

"Let's take the seat, it means he is of lay opinion, his class is the same as you (journalists)," continued the elite of the bull party.

Moreover, continued Bambang, Bahlil also has no experience with elections. Either become a legislative candidate, or run in the regional and presidential elections.

"Please allow Mr. Bahlil to have never participated in an electoral election. Is he a member of the council, has he never been in an election. Is he a candidate for the regional head election, never before, a cawapres candidate has never been. This means that he has not followed the electoral process ordered by law, then where his expertise is still a question. mark," said the chairman of Commission III of the DPR.

Therefore, the secretary of the DPR's PDIP faction asked Bahlil not to talk about presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2024 election. According to Bambang, Bahlil has no experience participating in elections.

"Why gotak gatuk. If Bambang Pacul is already coming, boss," concluded Bambang Pacul.