Gibran Meets King All Over Maluku Allegedly Violating Rules, TKN: Even Though They Are Village Heads But They Are Community Leaders

Vice Presidential Candidate number 2 Gibran Rakabuming Raka during a dialogue with the king of Maluku in Ambon City, Maluku, Monday (8/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-National Campaign Team)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Prabowo Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Mahfuz Sidiq, said that the meeting of Gibran Rakabuming Raka together with kings throughout Maluku was a gathering in their capacity as community leaders.

"So, I think it's a friendship with the kings. Even though they are village heads (kades), the meeting was intended for them as community leaders, not as village heads," Mahfuz said when met in Jakarta, Friday, January 12, was confiscated by Antara.

Mahfuz made the statement in response to the alleged violations alleged against Gibran Rakabuming Raka because he had a dialogue with kings throughout Maluku who incidentally were village heads.

Menurut Mahfuz, pertemuan antara tokoh nasional dan tokoh masyarakat merupakan hal biasa untuk mempererat hubungan serta menjaga silaturahim.

"Yes, I think gatherings are normal in our society, yes. Pak Jokowi as president just meets Pak Prabowo, that's a normal thing too, friendship," he said.

Mahfuz, who also serves as Secretary General of the Indonesian People's Wave Party (Gelora), is of the opinion that the activities carried out by President Jokowi's eldest son did not violate the rules contained in the General Election Commission (PKPU) regulations.

He also asked all parties not to debate this and leave it entirely to the local Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to conduct an examination if there are violations.

"In my opinion, already, don't argue," said Mahfuz.

Previously, the Maluku Province Bawaslu stated that the visit of the vice presidential candidate number 2 Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Ambon City, Maluku, was suspected of violating the rules.

"The Vice President with serial number 2, immediately held a meeting with a number of heads of state governments and village heads, both from Ambon City and Central Maluku Regency in SwissBell Hotel. Initially, we stated that this was a violation," said a member of the Maluku Province Bawaslu Samsun Ninilouw in Ambon, Maluku, Thursday 11 January.

Samsun explained that the Maluku Province Bawaslu found around 30 village heads out of about 100 people who were also present at the political safari activity at a hotel in Ambon City.

In fact, said Samsun, Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (UU Pemilu) has regulated the ban.

"Regarding the village head, we state that this is a violation even though this is not final," he said.