Dozen PSI Branch Officials in Semarang Resign En Masse

Officials across 13 sub-district branch committees (DPC) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in Semarang, Central Java, collectively announced their resignation on Sunday evening (22 February).

The decision was made as an expression of disappointment over the Central Executive Board’s (DPP) appointment of Bangkit Mahanantiyo as acting chairman of PSI’s Semarang City Regional Leadership Council (DPD).

The 13 sub-district-level party committees deemed that their voices were no longer being heard, making it pointless to remain in their positions.

“Our voices are no longer being listened to, so there is no point in us staying on,” said Hanif Nafilah Rozaq, chairman of PSI’s North Semarang branch, at the PSI Semarang City office.

The resignations were marked by the return of branch office signage to the city-level party headquarters. However, Hanif said the officials would remain as ordinary party members.

“We have agreed that from tonight, we are ordinary PSI cadres,” he said.

The exact number of committee members who resigned from the 13 sub-district branches remains unclear.

The decision came after dialogue with the provincial-level Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of PSI Central Java reached a deadlock.

Hanif added that direct communication was also attempted with the DPP via WhatsApp, as well as through messages sent to the Instagram account of PSI chairman Kaesang Pangarep, but no response was received.

“We even reached out to Kaesang, but there was no reply,” he said.

Former chairman of PSI’s Central Semarang branch, Teguh Pambudi, argued that the DPW had failed to bridge communication between the sub-district branches and the central board. As such, the resignations also reflected disappointment with the provincial leadership’s stance.

“The DPW should have been able to connect us to the DPP. But what happened? The DPW couldn’t serve as a bridge — they were confused themselves. The last thing I remember them saying was, ‘just ask the DPP directly,’” Teguh said.

As of the time of reporting, neither the DPP nor the acting DPD chairman had responded to the mass resignations of party officials across the 13 sub-districts in Semarang.