Hasto, A KPK Suspect, Will Influence Public Support To PDIP?

Secretary General of the PDI-P (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto. (Ist)

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto has been named a suspect by the KPK in connection with the alleged bribery case that ensnared former PDIP legislative candidate Harun Masiku.

So, will Hasto's status, who is the right-hand man of PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, affect public support for PDIP?

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah, assessed that the determination of Hasto would not affect public support for the party bearing the white-nosed bull. Because according to Dedi, former corruption convicts can still win the people's votes in the election.

"To be honest, the current bitter reality is that the issue of corruption has not had a major impact on public sympathy for political parties, even corruptors can still win the contest in the 2024 Pilkada," said Dedi to VOI, Tuesday, December 24.

"The same thing about the suspect Hasto, this does not influence the public's sympathy for PDIP much," he continued.

In fact, according to Dedi, the situation could turn around if PDIP was good at managing things. "They can propaganda themselves as an oppressed party, and indeed in Indonesia corruption is a political space, especially the punishment for corruptors is also not heavy," said Dedi.

"Just look at the cases that have just been decided on Harvey Moeis, the state losses, which are estimated at 300 trillion, are only sanctioned at 6.5 years," he added.

Therefore, Dedi assessed that the public would not be affected by the news of the arrest of politicians who were caught in corruption cases. Because the public knows that the crime was not only committed by PDIP cadres, but also committed by other political parties.

"So, PDIP will remain the same as yesterday, the issue of corruption in PDIP is not this time, also about VAT, the public actually knows that it is not only the work of PDIP, but everything in parliament," he explained.

Unlike Dedi, Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga assessed that the news of the determination of Hasto Kristiyanto as a suspect by the KPK could affect public support for PDIP. It can even damage the good name of the party known as the 'child wong party'.

"Of course it can (influentially, ed), because the majority of Indonesians strongly reject corrupt behavior. The public will perceive the politicians and parties as negative," Jamiluddin told VOI, Tuesday, December 24.

According to Jamiluddin, several cases have shown that party cadres who are considered corrupt will affect their party. This can be seen from the decline in support for the party during the Pilleg, Presidential Election, and Pilkada.

"So, if Hasto is later proven guilty, then the impact will damage the name of PDIP. This is thought to make PDIP even worse," said Jamiluddin.

However, if this news is true, Jamiluddin assessed, the KPK must ensure that the determination of the suspect is purely based on legal considerations.

"Hasto is the only suspect because he has fulfilled two pieces of evidence related to the alleged bribery. This needs to be proven by the KPK, because Hasto is considered by many parties to have been targeted for a long time to be named a suspect in the Harun Masiku case. This must be denied by the KPK so that the determination of Hasto as a suspect is not due to politicization," he said.