Ahmad Ali to Meet JK to Help Mediate Grace Natalie Case

PSI Deputy Chairman Ahmad Ali has stated that he will open communications with Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, to assist in mediating the legal process against his party’s Deputy Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Grace Natalie. Grace, along with Ade Armando and Permadi Arya, was previously reported by Kalla’s supporters over allegations of incitement and hate speech. The reports stem from statements made by the three on various social media platforms regarding Kalla’s lecture at UGM some time ago. “I could act as an intermediary, a bridge to Mr JK for communication. I am also trying to do so,” Ali said when contacted on Thursday (7/5). However, Ali did not reveal whether the mediation would also help resolve the cases of Ade Armando and Permadi. Ade has recently announced his resignation from PSI, deeming the case to have dragged the party too far. Ali claims to have communicated with someone close to Kalla. According to him, both sides share a desire for the case to be resolved in a familial manner. “I was just called by one of the people close to him to discuss this. We both want this issue not to widen further, so we are pushing for a familial resolution,” he said. Ali admits to having a close relationship with Kalla. He considers Kalla as an elder brother. Besides in the party, Ali is also in the same organisation as Kalla in the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI). Ali says he currently serves as Chairman of DMI Central Sulawesi, with Kalla as the general chairman. Even his parents are DMI members. “I am the Chairman of the DMI Central Sulawesi Regional Board, Mr JK is the General Chairman. In my doorstop a few days ago, I said Mr JK is my brother, my parents. My brother in HMI, my parents in the Mosque Council,” Ali stated. However, despite his closeness to Kalla, Ali says he will not abandon Grace as a party colleague. Moreover, Grace was once the general chairman. Thus, although he will not involve institutional participation, he will still help personally. “No matter what, this party will never detach from Ms Grace, let alone abandon Ms Grace. Definitely, because she is one of the most important people in the birth of this party,” he said. Previously, Ali stated that his party would not provide legal assistance to PSI Board of Trustees Secretary Grace Natalie after she was reported in the incitement and hate speech case at Bareskrim Polri. Ali emphasised that Grace’s actions or statements in the case were outside party duties, purely personal motives. “So institutionally, we ensure we will not provide party legal assistance because these are matters to be personally accountable for,” Ali said at the PSI Central Executive Board office on Tuesday (5/5).