PSI Responds to PDIP Accusations of Cadre Poaching

PSI DPP Chairman Bestari Barus has responded to remarks by PDIP politician Deddy Yevri Sitorus regarding the alleged ‘poaching’ of cadres from other parties. ‘I think it is not quite right to call it poaching. Perhaps if someone is already bored with PDIP and then moves to PSI, that is more acceptable, more realistic,’ Bestari said via telephone on Monday (15/6). Bestari suggested that PDIP cadres might switch to PSI because they are bored and wish to change direction, joining PSI to fight alongside Jokowi. He said they may want to struggle together with Jokowi, who has won elections up to five times. Bestari also took a swipe at Deddy. Rather than taking issue with PSI, he suggested PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri should go directly on safari around Indonesia. ‘A big party fussing over PSI, fussing over Jokowi, they say they have already forgotten Jokowi, but it seems they never want to move on,’ he said. Bestari’s statement was in response to PDIP DPP Chairman Deddy Yevri Sitorus, who accused PSI of actively recruiting cadres from various political parties. He said the recruitment efforts target not only PDIP cadres but also those from several other parties such as NasDem, Demokrat, and PAN. Deddy stated that PDIP continues to monitor PSI’s movements in attempting to persuade their cadres. ‘Remember, other parties will also confront them because of the effort to poach cadres from other parties. The symptoms are very visible, 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).