70 APK Sambut Mahfud MD In Banten Installed Early Missing Afternoon, TPN: Who Can Do This?

Aiman Witjaksono (central) together with the Director of Law and Legal Studies at TPN Ganjar-Mahfud, Ronny Talapessy (left) after being questioned by Polda Metro Jaya, Tuesday 5 December. (ANTARA-Ilham Kausar)

JAKARTA - The Ganjar-Mahfud National Winning Team (TPN) regrets the loss of more than 70 campaign props (APK) welcoming the arrival of vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD in Banten.

"Yesterday there was a banner of 70 banners to welcome the arrival of Mr. Mahfud in Banten installed during the day, but at 03.00 WIB it was gone," said the Director of Law and Studies of the Ganjar-Mahfud National Winning Team (TPN), Ronny Talapessy, in his statement, Thursday, December 14, which was confiscated by Antara.

The day after accompanying presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo to attend the presidential candidate debate at the General Election Commission Building, Mahfud Md was present at a number of points in Banten, including attending the National Seminar at the University of Fatehan, Serang, dialogue with Banten community leaders in Lebak, as well as dialogue with scholars throughout Banten at the Roudlotul Ulum Islamic Boarding School, Pandeglang.

Ronny said dozens of banners and other props installed in Banten to welcome the arrival of Mahfud Md disappeared. Information obtained from the Ganjar-Mahfud Regional Winning Team in Banten, 70 banners posted by M3CB to welcome Mahfud Md in the Cidahu area, were missing.

Cidahu is the residence area of the charismatic Banten cleric, KH. Abuya Muhtadi Dimyati. Kiai, who is familiarly called Abuya Dimyati, recently declared support for Ganjar-Mahfud with the Central Leadership Council of the Muzakarah Council Muhtadi Cidahu, Banten (M3CB) at the Cidahu Council, Tanagara Village, Cadasari District, Pandeglang Regency.

In the declaration, Abuya Muhtadi said support for Ganjar-Mahfud was the result of a joint meeting with the M3CB DPP.

Apart from Cidahu, more than 70 banners posted at Falatehan University also disappeared. In fact, according to the Ganjar-Mahfud TKD in Banten, the banners disappeared in the early hours of the morning at 03.00 WIB.

Ronny explained that the banners containing pictures of presidential and vice presidential candidates number 3 namely Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md were missing simultaneously. He also questioned who the parties who were able to do this.

"The contents of the photos of Mr. Ganjar and Mr. Mahfud at 3 am are gone. We are wondering who can do this? Right because in the morning and immediately 70 banners we lost," he said surprised.

In line with Ronny, Chairman of TPD Ganjar-Mahfud Banten, Rano Karno regretted the loss of campaign props in a series of Mahfud Md activities in Banten today.

"We believe that democracy is the path that we must hold as hard as we can by respecting diversity, caring for various attitudes and thoughts. Intimidation and fraudulent ways like this should not be continued," said Rano.