PDIP Elite's Sharp Rebuke for AHY

PDIP elite Deddy Sitorus has launched a sharp critique of Democrat Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) over his statement asking PDIP to continue providing constructive criticism despite being outside the government. Responding to this, Deddy asked AHY not to incite and to respect the political stance taken by PDIP.

AHY spoke about PDIP’s position at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (22/6). AHY said he respected PDIP’s position because his own party had also been outside the government. According to him, every party has its own interests regardless of its position.

“I respect all political parties that have certain stances and views. Everyone has an agenda, everyone has interests, but let us place our common and national interests above partisan interests,” AHY said. “Democrats certainly have interests and goals, and we have also been in opposition, we have been the ruling party, so it can be said that Democrats have a complete set of experiences and track records. We are grateful for all of that. Each, of course, comes with different consequences and challenges,” he continued.

The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development said that if a party is in the government coalition, its role must be to ensure the smooth running of government programmes. Conversely, he said, when in opposition, it must provide constructive criticism and must not divide the nation.

“When in opposition, of course, there is an interest in providing views, even criticism, but it must be constructive and must also come with solutions,” AHY stated. “It must not divide the nation, nor discredit as if everything is wrong. But when there is something that is indeed correct and represents the aspirations of the people, the government also listens, the government must also be willing to conduct evaluations and so forth,” he added.

AHY assessed that oversight and balance are also important and necessary in a democratic country. AHY entrusted a message to the Head of the Democrat Faction, Eddhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, known as Ibas, to oversee matters from the DPR. “Checks and balances are also necessitated in a democracy, whatever the political choice or electoral regime choice. With that, I also entrust a message, as it happens the Head of the Democrat Party Faction in the DPR RI and colleagues currently in parliament are here, let us continue to maintain a positive spirit,” AHY explained.

Deddy initially spoke about the numerous accusations against PDIP of being the mastermind behind demonstrations, and parties questioning PDIP’s position inside or outside the government. Deddy brought up that PDIP was even accused of being the mastermind of demos in 2025. “Back in 2025, we were also accused of being the mastermind of demos. Now we are also accused of being the mastermind of demos. Well, these accusations refute themselves. In 2025, not a single PDI Perjuangan person or anyone linked to PDI Perjuangan was legally processed by the authorities. So, it is automatically refuted by the facts,” Deddy said at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (23/6).

The Chair of the PDIP Central Executive Board revealed the same thing is happening again in 2026. He said one PDIP cadre, Andi Widjajanto, is being accused of being the demo mastermind. “Now it is the same. Andi Widjajanto is being accused. Even a coordinating minister like AHY speaks, saying don’t incite,” he said. “This once again proves that being outside the government always makes one an easy scapegoat,” he continued.

He assessed that the accusation against Andi Widjajanto has no legal basis and is only based on assumptions. According to him, the parties questioning PDIP’s position are motivated by dissatisfaction within the government’s own circles. “I see in the case of why other parties are making noise about PDI Perjuangan’s position, this is most likely dissatisfaction among themselves regarding their position within the government, or perhaps they want more attention from the president, I don’t understand,” he said. “But this is proof that they are just making noise, in my opinion, without supporting facts,” he continued.

Nevertheless, he did not take issue with the many accusations against his party. According to him, the student actions occurring are a pure movement and not engineered. “I think someone said, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’, right? So go ahead and accuse PDI Perjuangan. We see for ourselves how public sentiment has actually become positive because they see that what the students are voicing is the genuine truth in their minds, not a baseless fabrication for student actions,” he explained. “Because it is almost impossible to orchestrate massive demonstrations across Indonesia just by doing or pushing certain parties. This is purely from the students,” he continued.

Deddy asked the government coalition political parties to listen to the students’ aspirations. He asked them not to make PDIP a scapegoat to blame. “The students’ demands are not being responded to, instead it is spreading to PDI Perjuangan becoming a scapegoat. If you want to look for a goat, do it during the sacrificial feast, not on days like these. Yes, tell Mr AHY, tell Misbakun, look for a goat during the sacrificial Eid, not when the people and students feel their aspirations are being ignored,” he said.