Rumours of Dedi Mulyadi Moving to PSI, Gerindra Speaks Out
West Java Gerindra has responded to speculation that West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi will leave the party and join the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).
West Java Gerindra Deputy Chairman Buky Wibawa Karya Guna said he was unaware of the basis for the rumour. He also stressed that Dedi Mulyadi, also known as Demul or KDM, had previously declared his support for Prabowo Subianto to lead Indonesia.
“I do not know what data and variables are behind the speculation that Dedi Mulyadi (Demul) wants to move to PSI. However, there has been a firm denial from Demul himself. In his statement, he wants Prabowo to lead Indonesia,” Buky said when contacted on Monday (24/8).
Buky added that he had not seen any signs that Dedi Mulyadi would leave Gerindra.
“After all, he is a Gerindra cadre and serves on the Central Gerindra Advisory Board. This shows strong moral and ethical quality. So, on the several occasions I have met Demul, I have not seen any signs pointing in that direction. I also find this commotion strange,” he said.
Buky also rejected the notion that Dedi Mulyadi’s frequent visits to various regions, including outside West Java, were aimed at seeking sympathy. One example was Dedi’s visit to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) after a major earthquake last week, which was later linked to the rumour of his move to PSI.
According to Buky, he understands Dedi’s character as someone who enjoys going directly into the field to help resolve various problems.
“He is active in travelling around and is not the type of leader who sits behind a desk. I see him as exactly that kind of figure. He is someone whose feelings are easily touched — he himself often says that he is easily moved — and then he tries to solve the problem,” he said.
Buky said the assistance provided by Dedi was no different from that given by a number of other regional heads. He noted that aid from the DKI Jakarta and East Java provincial governments was also provided on humanitarian grounds.
“Several governors also provided assistance, such as from DKI Jakarta or East Java, but that was purely on humanitarian grounds,” Buky added.
The rumour that Dedi Mulyadi would move to PSI had previously been denied by the PSI central board.
PSI Central Board Chairman for Political Affairs Bestari Barus said there had been no communication between PSI and Dedi regarding any plan to join the party.
He even admitted he did not know where the rumour originated.
“As Chairman for Political Affairs, it would be impossible for me not to know if such things were happening. But I do not know about this,” Bestari said when contacted on Monday (24/8).
“There is nothing like that. There is not even a source for the rumour stating who wrote it. So perhaps someone is just throwing a wild ball? There is nothing on our side,” he added.
Bestari also denied that PSI was trying to recruit Dedi for the 2029 general election. He said the party was currently focused on the factual verification process at the General Elections Commission (KPU).
“No, our concentration today is limited to passing the KPU factual verification,” he said.
Bestari added that PSI remained committed to supporting Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka for the 2029 presidential election. According to him, this stance was in line with the direction of Joko Widodo as Chairman of the PSI Advisory Board.
“For the presidential election, we have already been instructed by Mr Jokowi: Prabowo-Gibran for two terms. Ah, okay. So we will stay with that until today, not thinking about plan A or plan B anymore, just that for now,” he said.