Defense Anies, PKS Serang Bawaslu: Don't Ngadi-Ngadi, Distinguate Socialization And Campaign

Anies Baswedan visited Cimpago Beach, Padang Sumbar recently. (Instagram @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - PKS responded to members of the Puadi Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) who accused Anies Baswedan of stealing campaign starting during a political safari to a number of regions in Indonesia. PKS assessed that Bawaslu's statement was counterproductive.

"Pudi also stated that all parties, including officials and members of political parties and state officials, do not carry out covert campaign activities that seem to steal the start of the 2024 election campaign. Even though they have officially become election participants, political parties are asked not to campaign early," said PKS DPP chairman Nabil Ahmad Fauzi in his statement, Friday, December 16. Instead, continued Nabil, Bawaslu should have encouraged all parties to participate in proactively disseminating the upcoming 2024 election celebrations. Especially to political elites, national figures and political parties participating in the 2024 election.

"So giving a wide space and signs to all parties can play a role in socializing the community. Don't do it the other way around," said Nabil. "This election is a big celebration, a place for people's contestation, ideas, ideas and programs, vision and mission. Instead, election organizers are grateful if many parties are enthusiastic about the success of the election. So don't go to this Bawaslu," he added.

Therefore, Nabil asked Bawaslu to distinguish between the socialization of which campaigns should not be misguided and issue tendentious statements. "Bawaslu needs to be clear about what socialization and where the campaign is. So it is suspected that certain parties who are socializing themselves or their political parties as a form of stealing campaign startes are misguided, even tend to be tendentious," he concluded. Previously, the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) called Anies Baswedan unethical for stealing campaign starts by carrying out activities in Aceh some time ago.

"In terms of political ethics, AB (Anies Baswedan)'s political safari activities can be seen as an unethical act. (Because) they have carried out covert campaign activities and seem to steal startings in campaigning as presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election," said Bawaslu Puadi member at the Indonesian Bawaslu Office, Jakarta, Thursday, December 15. Bawaslu has also investigated the report against Anies. However, Bawaslu did not sentence Anies because he did not find any violations in the incident in Aceh on December 2.

Puadi explained that there were no violations because there had been no presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election. Although, he said, the public already knew that Anies was a potential presidential candidate that had been declared by several parties.