PAN, PKS deny getting Rp 500b to let Sandiaga become VP candidate

POLITIC - JAKARTA. Top officials at the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) denied an accusation that the parties had received Rp 500 billion (US$34.6 million) from Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno to let Sandiaga become a vice presidential candidate in their coalition to contest in 2019 election.

“As of this morning, Sandiaga Uno has yet to meet PAN’s executive board. How could he talk about a fantastic value of political dowry?” Drajad Wibowo, PAN’s vice chairman of the honorary council, said Thursday. Drajad said his party insisted on proposing PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan for the VP slot.

Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Andi Arief said on Wednesday evening that Gerindra Party’s chairman Prabowo Subianto let Sandiaga’s money come between the Democratic Party and Gerindra. The Democratic Party has been eyeing the vice presidential candidate slot for Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of the party’s chairman, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The PKS’ director for presidential elections, Suhud Aliyudin, also denied the accusation, saying Andi should prove the accusation. “Yes, it is a hoax. How could we carry Rp 500 billion [in cash]?” Suhud said.

Suhud, however, confirmed that Sandiaga’s name as Prabowo’s running mate was proposed by Prabowo in a meeting with the PKS. The PKS has been insisting on their own member, Salim Segaf Al Jufri, as the running mate.

Andi called Prabowo a “cardboard general” in his Twitter account on Thursday morning.

Prabowo visited Yudhoyono’s house in Kuningan in South Jakarta on Thursday at 9:55 a.m. to have a closed door meeting. The meeting went on for 45 minutes and Prabowo left the house without making any statement to the press.