Arifin's Machfud Team Responds To The PDIP Secretary General's Statement On 'Hummer Undermines The Dignity Of The People Of Surabaya'

Car owned by volunteer Machfud Arifin-Mujiaman (DOK. SPECIAL)

SURABAYA - The winning team for the pair of candidates for mayor and deputy mayor of Surabaya, Machfud Arifin (MA) and Mujiaman responded to the statement made by the PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto. Hasto previously talked about the use of luxury cars by MA-Mujiaman volunteers during a campaign to humiliate the residents of Surabaya.

Director of Communication and Media of the Machfud Winning Team Arifin-Mujiaman Sukirno (Maju) Imam Syafi'i considered Hasto Kristiyanto's statement as a form of panic and fear of losing in the 2020 Surabaya Pilkada.

"In my opinion, it is only Pak Hasto's panic and fear. The statement is made up and difficult to accept by logic," said Imam Syafii, quoted by Antara, Sunday, November 8.

Apart from that, his party also highlighted Hasto's statement that there was intimidation against the candidate pair and the Eri-Armuji (Erji) team to the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini.

Imam Syafii, who is also a member of the Surabaya City DPRD from the NasDem Party, emphasized that the luxury car with branding for candidate pair Machfud Arifin-Mujiaman belongs to volunteers.

"Pak Machfud Arifin and Pak Mujiaman used the Kijang Innova car during their campaign," said Imam.

According to him, car branding is a form of expression and love for the volunteers. Machfud Arifin, he continued, could not hinder or limit the expressions of love from the volunteers and their supporters.

Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP Hasto Kristiyanto in a press statement, Saturday, November 7, said that politics builds civilization, spreads kindness, and sides with the little ones.

"What was shown by the Machfud-Mujiaman pair by presenting a Hummer, Limousine, white Porsche, and various attractions dividing logistics massively, is actually degrading the dignity of the people of Surabaya," he said as quoted by Antara.

According to Hasto, their campaign strategy was wrong, he considered the people of Surabaya to be a warrior society. "Have self-respect, and are not easily dazzled by the appearance of the campaign with super luxury cars," said Hasto.

The Surabaya regional election was followed by candidates for the mayor and deputy mayor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi and Armuji. The candidate pair number 1 was carried by the PDI Perjuangan and supported by PSI. In addition, they also get additional strength from six non-parliamentary political parties, namely the Bulan Bintang Party (PBB), the Hanura Party, the Berkarya Party, PKPI, and the Garuda Party.

Meanwhile, Machfud Arifin-Mujiaman pair number 02 was carried by a coalition of eight parties, namely PKB, PPP, PAN, Golkar, Gerindra, PKS, Democrat and NasDem Party and supported by a non-parliamentary party, namely the Perindo Party.