Jokowi Asked To Firmly Evaluate The Head Of BP2MI Who Is Strongly Suspected Of Mobilizing PMI Abroad To Win One Of The Candidates

Jokowi and Ganjar (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - A political observer from the National University (Unas), R Wijaya Dg Mapassomba asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to evaluate the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Rhamdani. Benny is strongly suspected of using his power to mobilize Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) abroad to win one of the presidential and vice presidential pairs. "Benny Rhamdani is strongly suspected of using his influence as Head of BP2MI to win one of the presidential candidates abroad in the 2024 election," Jaya said in an electronic message received in Jakarta, Sunday, February 11. Benny's accusation of abuse of power emerged after the circulation of the results of the exit election for the 2024 presidential election, which was dominantly won by one of the presidential and vice presidential pairs. Even though the KPU has denied the truth of the vote count results. Based on the exit polls that are widely spread on social media, the pair won elections in many locations abroad. Among them, in Australia, Hong Kong, Europe, United States, South America, Timor Leste. The candidate pair is said to have only lost in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Previously, added Jaya, Benny invited the same presidential candidate (when it was still a presidential candidate) to attend BP2MI activities, without inviting other presidential candidates. "Benny's action is questionable and the President takes action," he said. It is known that BP2MI had invited one of the presidential candidates in the release of 1,500 Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), last November 2023. The presidential candidate will be present to motivate PMIs who want to go to South Korea (South Korea). At that time, Benny revealed, the event was delayed due to a unilateral cancellation of the use of government-owned buildings. He suspects that this happened because he invited the presidential candidate. "For this reason, we ask President Jokowi to fire Benny Rhamdani who clearly violates this rule," added Jaya. Furthermore, he considered, Benny often maneuvered politics, while serving as Head of BP2MI. "In fact, he led a demonstration in front of the State Palace to downgrade other presidential candidates as suspected human rights violators, so he could not enter the Palace if he won the presidential election," he said. Jaya views that Benny's actions in this political year are often critical. Despite having the rights as a citizen, all Benny's political maneuvers are seen as against ethics as a public official. "Indeed, he has the right to support certain candidate pairs. However, it would be better not to disclose it to the public, enough at the ballot booth. So that there will be no noise, divisions in PMI and BP2MI institutions," he said. Benny Rhamdani previously emphasized that the event was not politically charged even though it invited one of the presidential candidates.

"The release, our briefing always invites ministers, members of the DPR, general chairmen of parties, then important political figures of this nation, local governments, regents, governors, coordinating ministers, we have presented them," said Benny on the sidelines of the Briefing and Providing Motivation by the Head of BP2MI in the Pre-Departure Orientation activities at the eL Hotel Royale Jakarta. "So there is no political element. All presidential and vice-presidential candidates have not been appointed as candidate pairs by the KPU. So there is no political element," said Benny.