Halalbihalal at SBY's Residence: Anies Reportedly Not on the Guest List

Anies Baswedan was reportedly not on the guest list for the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah halalbihalal event at the residence of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in Puri Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, last Saturday (21/3). This was stated by the Deputy Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Renanda Bachtar. However, Renanda said, SBY still received all parties who attended. “Not invited, but anyone who comes is received just like a guest arriving at home,” Renanda said when confirmed on Wednesday (25/3). Nanda assured that there were no special discussions between Anies and SBY or the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). According to him, Anies’ presence was purely for silaturahmi. Renanda added that Anies’ presence was also not related to the 2024 presidential election contestation. “There were no special discussions except exchanging Eid greetings,” Renanda said. Anies’ close colleague and Chairman of the People’s Movement Party, Sahrin Hamid, declined to respond when asked about the halalbihalal invitation. However, he viewed the Eid silaturahmi as a noble tradition. He realised that meetings between political figures could give rise to various interpretations. Nevertheless, he emphasised that Anies’ meeting was only silaturahmi. “We also understand that in politics, every meeting certainly has meaning and provokes interpretations. However, the meeting above must be interpreted as a moment of Eid silaturahmi among national figures,” he said. The relationship between Anies and the Democrats, especially with AHY and SBY, came under scrutiny after the 2024 presidential election. Especially after Anies-AHY failed to advance as a pair. At that time, towards the end of registration, Anies instead ran with the Chairman of the PKB, Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin. Several Democratic Party politicians then issued harsh criticism towards Anies and expressed their disappointment. “The series of events that occurred is a form of betrayal against the spirit of change, betrayal against the Coalition Charter that has been agreed upon by the three political parties, and also betrayal against what was stated by presidential candidate Anies Baswedan himself who was given the mandate to lead the Change Coalition,” said the Democratic Party Secretary General at that time, Teuku Riefky Harsya.