Despite Once The DPR's Strong Criticism, Former Chairperson Of BEM UI Manik Candidate Perindo Admits His Goals Of Sitting On The Board's Seat

Former Chairperson Of BEM UI Manik Margamahendra/personal DOK

JAKARTA - Former Chairperson of BEM UI Manik Margamahendra explained the reason he is now running as a candidate for legislative member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD from the Perindo Party faction.

Manik, who used to criticize the government and the DPR, admitted that he actually aspired to sit in the parliamentary seat as a member of the council.

"Yes (I aspire to sit on the board seat). I have always been interested in politics," said Manik when contacted, Friday, June 16.

Manik explained the cause of his interest in politics. According to him, politics can be personal and close to everyday life.

"For example, getting further away from politics and the younger generation in a systemic way, being kept away from politics, I'm actually worried that our daily lives will be influenced by politics," said Manik.

Meanwhile, if Manik later passes as a member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD in the 2024 Legislative Election, he will test the idea of the problems of society that have been brought when he was a student to activists to be taken into consideration by policies and regulations formulated, especially in DKI.

"Hopefully it can bring the aspirations of the community may not be bridged properly. It can enter the system, including issues that have been discussed about public health," he said.

Chairman of the DKI Jakarta Perindo Party DPW, Effendy Syahputra, also commented on the progress of Manik as a legislative of the DKI Jakarta DPRD from his party. Manik will become a legislative candidate in the 2024 General Election from the East Jakarta 6 electoral district which includes Makasar, Cipayung, Ciracas, and Pasar Rebo sub-districts.

Pengcalegan Manik became a controversy because when he was still a student, Manik once called the DPR a "dewan traitor to the people".

According to Effendy, Manik's statement at that time became an interesting thing for the party led by Hary Tanoesoedibjo to take a political contestation in the 2024 General Election.

"In fact, that's what's interesting for us, right. He's the one who has the controversy, which we then talked about that politics is not like that. We believe beads can be good politicians with idealism. So, there's nothing wrong with his past that makes him unsuitable to progress," said Effendy.