Democrat Politician Hits Back at PDIP's Deddy Sitorus Over AHY's Statement

Democratic Party politician Yan Harahap has hit back at PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus, whom he considers to have been provoked by a statement from Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). Yan stated that AHY had previously made a statement aimed at inviting all elements to prioritise the nation’s interests over party interests. He questioned why Deddy was so disturbed by AHY’s remarks. “If a call to put the nation’s interests above party interests is considered incitement, then perhaps what is disturbing is not the content of the statement, but rather that the message is too true to be refuted,” Yan said in a written statement on Wednesday (24/6). Yan even admitted to doubting Deddy’s ability to comprehend AHY’s statement. “Perhaps this is actually a form of his inability to digest the narrative delivered by Mas AHY,” Yan remarked. Yan said he heard AHY’s statement, which Deddy referred to, firsthand. According to him, AHY’s statement was very clear that the task of political parties within the government coalition is to support and ensure the success of government programmes. Meanwhile, he continued, the task of political parties outside the government is to deliver constructive criticism accompanied by solutions. He said this is a principle of a healthy democracy. Furthermore, he said, AHY also stressed that national interests must be placed above partisan interests. He said AHY even reminded people not to divide the nation, not to discredit as if everything is wrong, and to keep space open for evaluating public aspirations. “It is difficult to find a sentence that is more moderate and more soothing than that, isn’t it?” Yan said. Yan questioned how Deddy understood AHY’s statement, which actually invited all parties to prioritise national interests, maintain unity, and build constructive criticism. He was baffled that Deddy considered AHY’s statement as incitement. “So what needs to be questioned is the way the statement is understood, not the content of the statement,” he said. AHY had previously responded to PDIP’s perceived ambiguous stance. AHY stated that when in opposition, a party must offer constructive criticism and not divide the nation. “When you are in opposition, of course you have an interest in providing views, even criticism, but it must be constructive, must also come with solutions, must not divide the nation, must not discredit as if everything is wrong,” AHY said some time ago. Deddy then alluded to AHY’s statement. Deddy said that since 2025, PDIP has always been accused of being the mastermind behind demonstrations. PDIP was again accused during recent protests. Deddy said the accusations were unproven because no PDIP cadre or affiliate has been legally processed for causing riots. “Now it’s the same. Andi Widjajanto is being accused. Even a coordinating minister like AHY is saying, don’t incite. This proves once again that being outside the government makes you an easy scapegoat,” Deddy said.