Ahmad Ali: PSI Needs Figures Truly Loved by the Public

JAKARTA — Ahmad Ali, Daily Chair of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), has called on his party to embrace figures with integrity, a proven track record and close ties to the public. Popularity alone, he said, is not enough to build public trust in the party.

“We must have the courage to face political realities. PSI needs figures who are truly loved by the public, not merely famous. They should have a track record, be trusted and have a history of helping communities. We must embrace them and build PSI together,” he said at a regional coordination meeting of PSI in Bogor Regency on Saturday (24 October 2026).

The meeting was also attended by PSI chairman Kaesang Pangarep, Indonesia’s seventh president Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, and West Java PSI regional board chair Ijo Hapidin, along with party officials and cadres.

Ahmad Ali said efforts to build political strength must go hand in hand with understanding the problems people face. He cited Bogor Regency, which has a population of 5.72 million and recorded economic growth of 5.24 per cent in 2025. However, its open unemployment rate remained at 7.69 per cent, or around 218,000 people, while about 402,000 residents were living in poverty.

“The economy is growing, but hundreds of thousands of people are still unemployed and living in poverty. These are the problems PSI cadres must understand. Politics must not stop at the struggle for power; it must be a means of delivering solutions,” he said.

Ahmad Ali also stressed the importance of strengthening the party’s organisation down to village level. He encouraged young people to take part in politics and not to be apathetic about decision-making processes that affect people’s lives.