Why Officials from 13 PSI Branch Boards in Semarang Resigned En Masse

Officials from 13 Sub-district Branch Boards (DPC) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in Semarang have resigned from their positions, marked by the return of branch office signboards to the Regional Board (DPD).

“Tonight we have officially resigned from the DPC PSI Semarang City structure by returning DPC assets to the DPD, namely the DPC signboards,” said Hanif Nafilah Rozaq, Chairman of the PSI North Semarang DPC, at the PSI Semarang City DPD Office on Sunday evening (22 February).

Hanif explained that the resignations were triggered by the appointment of Bangkit Mahanantiyo as Acting Chairman of the PSI Semarang DPD, which they deemed to be without proper basis.

“Our acting chairman was appointed without valid cause or strong reasons. Our voices are no longer being heard, so there is no point in us staying on,” he said.

Hanif stated that the resignations and the return of signboards to the DPD office in Central Semarang sub-district were carried out as a form of compliance with a previous Central Board (DPP) decision.

Hanif said a total of 13 DPCs along with their respective officials had stepped down. Nevertheless, they agreed to remain as ordinary PSI members.

“We have agreed that from tonight we shall be ordinary PSI members. There are 13 DPCs and their respective officials,” he said.

The decision to resign was taken after dialogue efforts failed. According to Hanif, the Provincial Board (DPW) had attempted to facilitate dialogue. Communication was also conducted directly with the Central Board via WhatsApp and messages sent to PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep’s Instagram account.

“We even reached out to Kaesang, but there was no response,” he said.

Teguh Pambudi, former Chairman of the PSI Central Semarang DPC, assessed that the DPW had failed to bridge communication between the DPCs and the Central Board. Their resignations were described as an expression of disappointment with the DPW’s stance.

“The DPW should have been able to bridge us to the Central Board. But what happened? The DPW couldn’t serve as a bridge; they were confused themselves. The last thing I remember, they said ‘just ask the Central Board directly’,” he said.

Acting Chairman of the PSI Semarang City DPD, Bangkit Mahanantyo, has not yet responded regarding the mass resignation of officials from the 13 DPCs.

Previously, the 13 DPC officials had protested a decree on the PSI Semarang City DPD leadership composition, which they considered inconsistent with the original agreement. The decree stated that Bangkit Mahanantyo had been selected as Chairman of the PSI Semarang City DPD and Melly Pangestu as secretary.

“Our colleagues expressed their disappointment because the decree that was communicated to DPC colleagues by the Central Board before it was ratified had a different composition,” said Hanif at Hotel Triizz on Sunday (11 January).