The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has responded\nharshly to claims by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) that it\nintends to make Central Java its \u2018kandang gajah\u2019 (elephant\u2019s den). PDIP\npolitician Guntur Romli urged PSI not to be arrogant, asserting that the\nparty bearing the elephant symbol does not yet possess the political\nstrength to claim PDIP\u2019s voter base.<\/p>\n
The controversy began after the Chairman of PSI\u2019s Central Java\nRegional Executive Board, Antonius Yogo, stated that his party was ready\nto accompany Indonesia\u2019s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), on a tour\nof Central Java. According to Yogo, the political safari aims to ensure\nCentral Java becomes a \u2018kandang gajah\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are immediately awaiting the schedule from Bapak. Our task now is\nto prepare for Bapak to go down and tour Central Java, to ensure that\nCentral Java truly becomes the elephant\u2019s den,\u2019 Yogo said, as quoted\nfrom detikJateng on Monday (6\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
Yogo explained that the proposed political safari covers almost all\nregencies and cities in Central Java. However, the locations to be\nvisited will ultimately be decided by Jokowi. \u2018As soon as possible, we\nwill prepare it as soon as possible. We will contact the team, hopefully\nby mid-July this can start. We proposed almost 35 regencies\/cities, of\ncourse, Bapak will choose which ones he will visit,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n
According to Yogo, the plan is a follow-up to a meeting with Jokowi.\nPSI Central Java is currently finalising the schedule and technical\ndetails of the political safari. He also reported to Jokowi that the\nestablishment of party structures in Central Java has reached\napproximately 95 percent, meaning the party machinery is ready to work\nat full capacity.<\/p>\n
\u2018We reported the performance achievements of the DPW structure\nthroughout Central Java, which is almost 95 percent. The party machinery\nstructure we promised is ready, we reported this to Bapak today,\u2019 he\nstressed.<\/p>\n
PDIP politician Guntur Romli assessed that PSI\u2019s claim regarding\nCentral Java as a \u2018kandang gajah\u2019 is nothing more than arrogance. He\neven suggested that the planned political safari with Jokowi indicates\nPSI still needs the former president\u2019s figure. \u2018PSI should not be too\narrogant. Jokowi forcing himself to tour means PSI is very weak. If PSI\nwere strong, Jokowi would just be resting and relaxing. This political\nsafari is also a diversion from the issue of the PSI Secretary-General\nwho admitted to receiving money from the Kuansing Regent, which was only\nreturned 10 days later,\u2019 Guntur told reporters on Sunday (5\/7).<\/p>\n
He also urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) not to be\nselective, questioning why it took 10 days for the money to be returned\nand stating that this does not nullify the criminal act. He also\nmentioned the case of PSI Daily Chairman Ahmad Ali, whose house was\nsearched and billions of rupiah seized, yet he remains untouched.<\/p>\n
Guntur further brought up the results of the 2024 General Election.\nHe argued that PSI lacks the political capital to talk about seizing\nPDIP\u2019s voter base in Central Java. \u2018It\u2019s just a form of arrogance, not a\nstatement that needs to be responded to, let alone worried about. If PSI\nwere the number two party in 2024, then saying they want to seize the\n\u2019bull\u2019s den\u2019 would be more logical,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018PSI failed to enter parliament in 2024, even though they were fully\nsupported by Jokowi, with the tagline PSI is Jokowi\u2019s Party, putting\nJokowi\u2019s photo on all their billboards. Even as president, Jokowi failed\nto get PSI through, let alone now that he is no longer president. PSI,\ndon\u2019t be arrogant,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
DPP PDIP Chairman Deddy Sitorus also criticised PSI. He responded to\na statement by DPP PSI Chairman Bestari Barus, who questioned PDIP\u2019s\nattitude towards Jokowi. \u2018It feels like we never hear PSI\u2019s voice on\npeople\u2019s issues, they are just busy dragging PDIP into things. The\npeople are tired of PSI\u2019s gimmicks,\u2019 Deddy told reporters on Sunday\n(5\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
Deddy assessed that PSI makes more sensational statements than\nvoicing the people\u2019s concerns. \u2018Enough already, the people also know\nthey are just creating sensations for electoral clout,\u2019 he said. \u2018We are\nwaiting for their voice on student demands, the Kuansing Regent bribery\ncase, and other issues related to the people.\u2019<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdip-fires-back-at-psi-over-elephants-den-claim-in-central-java-dont-be-arrogant-1783302631", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }