Bro Ron on Jokowi’s Effect on PSI: ‘We Have an Elephant Magnet’
Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Ronald Aristone Sinaga, known as Bro Ron, believes that the presence of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), in the party’s structure would have a positive impact.
Bro Ron made the remarks after meeting Jokowi at his residence in Sumber, Solo, Central Java, on Wednesday (20 October). He said public support for Jokowi remained very strong.
He pointed to Jokowi’s visits, which he said continued to attract public attention.
‘We have seen it, haven’t we? Wherever he goes, people are bound to crowd around him. The Presidential Security Force is always struggling to hold back people who want to shake his hand or take a photo with him,’ he said.
‘That’s the difference. Of course, we have our magnet — the elephant, PSI’s party symbol,’ he added.
Bro Ron said he and his delegation had come to convey the aspirations of PSI members in the regions, who wanted Jokowi to take up a formal position in the party soon.
‘We’re here to follow up on requests from our members in the regions, who can’t wait for him to move up one level,’ Bro Ron said.
Asked how Jokowi had responded to the proposal, Bro Ron did not give a definite answer. Instead, he asked the public to wait for the next surprise.
‘Let’s wait and see what the surprise will be. Just as showing the membership card in Bandung was a surprise. We’ll just have to wait,’ he said.
He said members in several regions wanted Jokowi to become PSI chairman. Two weeks ago, he added, PSI officials from Cirebon had made a similar request.
The position is currently held by Jokowi’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.
Bro Ron said, however, that members’ aspirations were not limited to the chairmanship.
Some members also want Jokowi to take another role in the party’s leadership, such as a position on its supervisory board. PSI Central Executive Board daily chairman Ahmad Ali made a similar remark on 19 October.
‘Some want him to become chairman, others want him on the supervisory board; we are taking all of these views on board. We are not holding anything back or hiding anything,’ Bro Ron said.
He said PSI, which promotes a concept of being ‘super open’, would listen to grassroots aspirations. The final decision on Jokowi’s position in the party, however, rests with PSI chairman Kaesang Pangarep.
Bro Ron also said an announcement about Jokowi’s position could be made at a PSI event in Surabaya in the near future.
‘It could be in Surabaya, or it could happen later. The main thing is that we have conveyed the grassroots message to him,’ he said.