Defending DPR Members Who Distribute Rp300 Thousand In Mosques, Bambang Pacul PDIP: Money Politics Doesn't Exist, Wong Hasn't Had An Election Yet

Chairman of the PDI-P Election Winning Body (Bapilu) Bambang Wuryanto or Bambang Pacul/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Chairman of Bappilu PDIP Bambang Wuryanto or Bambang Pacul, defended his cadre who is a member of the East Java electoral district DPR Said Abdullah related to distributing envelopes bearing the PDIP logo at a mosque in the Sumenep area, Madura. According to Bambang Pacul, the distribution of envelopes does not include money politics or money politics practices. Because the 2024 election has not yet started. "If it's money politics, it doesn't exist yet, wong hasn't been elected yet," said Pacul at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, March 28. Moreover, he continued, it is not yet known whether Said will run as a legislative candidate or regional head. Said is still in the legislator capacity who is visiting the electoral district. "Will Mr. Said be nominated? Not necessarily. The nomination is still far away. So, Mr. Said wants to be governor, it's also unclear. Is it a legislative candidate, it's not clear yet. It's still a long time," said Pacul. The secretary of the PDIP faction in the DPR understands that the public feels that there is something that is not right with the envelope that is distributed in the mosque, let alone containing the party logo. However, Pacul said, the distribution of envelopes is a love rope to its constituents. "What is not right is to use the image envelope, as if personally become an organization. But we can see that Mr. Said was touched by his heart to share, because Mr. Said's love for PDI, Pak Said's love for his congregation who enlivened his mosque became the congregation of his father's mosque," explained the chairman of Commission III of the DPR. Previously, a member of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Said Abdullah, assessed that his action was about distributing envelopes at a mosque in Sumenep, Madura, East Java, not violating the rules. It is known that the amount of money in the envelope is Rp. 300 thousand. As a legislator, it is natural to distribute aid to constituents in their constituency. "For me, I don't violate the rules of the game, nothing has been violated," said Said, Monday, March 27. The PDIP legislator for the East Java electoral district explained that the envelopes distributed to residents were only for routine mall zakat. According to him, all members of the DPR have recess funds and do the same. "For me, if it's mal zakat, it's Islamic harmony. If I don't get it out, I'll lose my Islam," said Said. "That's part of the relationship with the constituents. If it's not distributed, what about accountability? It's distributed, it's noisy again," he continued.