Ganjar Again Suggests Officials Forward To The Presidential Election To Resign From Their Positions, Including Mahfud MD

Presidential candidate number 3, Ganjar Pranowo when giving a press statement at the Manbaul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School, Kaliwungu, Kendal Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (23/1/2024). BETWEEN/Syaiful Hakim

Presidential Candidate (Capres) number 3, Ganjar Pranowo suggested that state officials running in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) resign from their positions to avoid conflicts of interest or "conflict of interest".

"So, I suggest resigning, change the rules. Including, vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD who currently serves as minister (Menko Polhukam)," said Ganjar at the Manbaul Hikmah Islamic Boarding School, Kaliwungu, Kendal Regency, Central Java, responding to the upload of the Ministry of Defense's 'X' social media account (Kemhan) which went viral using the hashtag Prabowo-Gibran 2024.

According to Ganjar, there is a potential conflict of interest for presidential election participants if they do not resign from their positions as state officials. Therefore, this potential must be watched out for.

"That's what we talked about from the start whether a person who is currently serving in public office, especially at the ministerial level, is resigning or not. The governor, regent, mayor resigned or not. Everything is in public office. When the decision is not and is allowed, there is the potential for 'conflict of interest'," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 23.

The former Governor of Central Java also highlighted the large number of officials who often use state facilities to campaign under the guise of working visits.

"With some incidents, people use facilities, use transportation tools, the reason for their visits is the Kunker but it turns out that campaign. People can value that. So we are taking that risk. So I suggest resigning. Change the rules, including Mr. Mahfud," he explained.

Ganjar admitted that he discussed this proposal with Mahfud and his team a lot. In addition, Ganjar also encouraged the rules regarding officials in the class of ministers and mayors not to resign if the presidential election was changed.

"So we discussed this so that it is better to resign. If the rules want to make it better, the people will be happier. Because there is no claim whether this is the ministry's social assistance, whether the rice belongs to the ministry. It can't be helped. Everyone will feel fair," said Ganjar.