Sandiaga Uno's Reply After The Party's KTA Was Questioned: I'm Still A Gerindra Cadre!

Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno paired presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential election. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Board of Trustees Sandiaga Uno emphasized that he is still a cadre of the party created by Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto. The affirmation was conveyed following Sandiaga's membership card (KTA) as a cadre in question. Sandiaga even stated that he obeyed the party's decision to nominate Prabowo as a presidential candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

"I am still a Gerindra cadre and obedient to the party's decision," said Sandiaga at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Thursday, September 8, evening. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) stated that as Gerindra cadres they would continue to comply with Prabowo's directives, including the 2024 presidential election.

"If there is a direction from Pak Prabowo, of course we will interpret it as a direction that we must obey," he said.

Sandiaga also explained that he became a Gerindra cadre because Prabowo was invited directly. So whatever task the Minister of Defense gives, he said, he is always ready to carry out.

"Entering Gerindra at Pak Prabowo's invitation, and I was invited to join Gerindra to take part in a contest that was still very difficult in DKI. And I ran it very well until this moment," said Sandiaga. Previously, Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Advisory Council Desmond J Mahesa questioned Sandiaga Uno's Gerindra KTA. Following the issue of Sandiaga wanting to run as a presidential candidate in 2024.

"Is he a Gerindra cadre or not? If he is a member of Gerindra, there is a member card," said Desmond, Thursday, September 8.

Desmond emphasized that Gerindra would be firm with Sandiaga if he was still a cadre. The reason is, Sandiaga stated that his readiness was supported by other political parties.

"If there are still signs of the party, it means that they were fired, otherwise," said Desmond.

According to Desmond, Sandiaga did not communicate with the Gerindra DPP when he was about to come to the PPP event in Yogyakarta. Therefore, the Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR assessed that Sandiaga no longer had a Gerindra member card.

"Nothing. If he communicates, allow me, all kinds of things, I don't say the card is eaten by rats, right. If he says that, it means he's okay, we know he's okay. In fact, he doesn't allow me, I assume that the Gerindra KTA no longer exists, that's it," explained Desmond. Denmond even admitted that he did not understand Sandiaga's status in Gerindra. According to him, Sandiaga came to Gerindra only for personal gain.

"That's why we don't understand, as party administrators, we don't understand whether he's a cadre or not. That's why I said he came with his interests, he left with his interests, it's normal, you know," he said.