PSI Hits Back at PDIP Over Cadre Poaching Allegations: Panic and Fear

The Chairman of the Central Executive Board for Political Affairs of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), Bestari Barus, has hit back at remarks by PDIP politician Deddy Sitorus, who claimed PSI is aggressively poaching cadres from other parties. He described the comments as a reflection of PDIP’s panic and fear in facing evolving political dynamics. “Well, it’s a mix of panic, fear, all sorts of things,” Bestari said via telephone on Monday (15/6). Rather than merely commenting on PSI, Bestari suggested it would be better for PDIP to encourage its chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri to conduct a political safari and engage directly with the public. He also took a swipe at PDIP, which he considers to still be fixated on and ‘failing to move on’ from the figure of Jokowi Widodo. “Instead of talking about PSI, talking about Mr Jokowi who they say has been forgotten, what’s wrong with PDIP?” he said. At the same time, Bestari also denied the ‘poaching’ narrative voiced by Deddy. He stated there was no coercion in his decision to leave NasDem for PSI. Bestari claimed that before joining PSI, he had paid a visit to Jokowi and also bid farewell to NasDem chairman Surya Paloh. “So what Deddy said about me alone is not true, let alone the rest. Come on, Deddy, take care of the people and do your job properly as a DPR member. Don’t panic endlessly,” he said. Bestari’s remarks were in response to Deddy Yevri Sitorus, Chairman of PDIP’s Central Executive Board, who accused PSI of aggressively recruiting cadres from various political parties. He said the recruitment efforts targeted not only PDIP cadres but also those from other parties such as NasDem, Demokrat, and PAN. Deddy added that PDIP continues to monitor PSI’s movements in attempting to lure their cadres. “Remember, other parties will also confront them because of their efforts to poach cadres from other parties. There are many visible signs of this, especially in the strongholds of NasDem, Demokrat, and PAN. So they are not only facing PDIP but also other parties whose cadres are being picked up to enlarge PSI instantly,” Deddy said when contacted on Monday (15/6).