Tens Volunteers Declaration Support Kaesang Mayor Depok, Turns Out to Be PSI Cadres and Sympathizers
Volunteers "The Victorious" who declared themselves to support Kaesang Pangarep running in the Depok mayoral election turned out to be filled with administrators and sympathizers of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).
Based on Kompas.com monitoring, at the declaration event which took place in the Pancoran Mas area, Depok, Thursday (1/6/2023), there were dozens of people who claimed to be Kaesang volunteers.
However, many of them are also PSI administrators and politicians.
For example, candidate from PSI Ade Armando, PSI Spokesperson for Law Francine Widjojo, and Chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bapilu) DPD PSI Depok City Icuk Pramana Putra.
In fact, Icuk was also lined up as a volunteer spokesperson for "The Won".
Another volunteer who was randomly interviewed by Kompas.com also claimed to be a PSI sympathizer.
Nanang (40), attended the declaration because he has been a PSI sympathizer for a long time.
"Yes, sympathizers too. Kaesang and PSI sympathizers," said Nanang.
The South Jakarta resident said his visit to Depok was a form of support for his friends who wanted Kaesang to run as a candidate for Mayor of Depok.
"Yes (South Jakarta KTP), but it's close and there are also many interests in Depok," said Nanang.
Like Nanang, Mardi (32) also admitted that he was a PSI volunteer.
The Depok resident admits that he agrees with PSI's position in proposing Kaesang as a candidate for mayor of Depok.
"The reason is wanting to support. Supporting candidates to bring about change in the city of Depok," he said.
PSI is a party that has been planning to run for President Joko Widodo's son from the start as a candidate for mayor of Depok.
PSI's support for Kaesang Pangarep was recently seen in the installation of giant billboards on Jalan Margonda, Depok, West Java.
Jalan Margonda is one of the main connecting routes from Depok to Jakarta.
A photo of Kaesang holding a rose and the PSI logo can be seen. The billboard reads "PSI Won, Mayor Kaesang".
The chairman of the Depok City PSI Bapilu, Icuk Pramana Putra, said that this support was based on the response from Depok City residents since his party announced Kaesang as a candidate for mayor at the end of March 2023.
"Over the past two months, our cadres have submitted this proposal to the people of Depok and it turns out that many have enthusiastically welcomed it," Icuk said in writing, Monday (22/5/2023).
Icuk also admitted that he had communicated directly with Kaesang regarding the provision of this support.
Puluhan Relawan Deklarasi Dukung Kaesang Wali Kota Depok, Ternyata Isinya Kader dan Simpatisan PSI
Relawan "Sang Menang" yang menyatakan diri mendukung Kaesang Pangarep maju dalam Pemilihan Wali Kota Depok ternyata diisi oleh pengurus dan simpatisan Partai Solidaritas Indonesia (PSI).
Pantauan Kompas .com dalam acara deklarasi yang berlangsung di kawasan Pancoran Mas, Depok, Kamis (1/6/2023), hadir puluhan orang yang mengaku sebagai relawan Kaesang.
Namun, banyak di antara mereka yang juga pengurus dan politisi PSI.
Misalnya caleg dari PSI Ade Armando, Juru Bicara PSI bidang Hukum Francine Widjojo, serta Ketua Badan Pemenangan Pemilu (Bapilu) DPD PSI Kota Depok Icuk Pramana Putra.
Bahkan, Icuk juga didapuk sebagai juru bicara relawan "Sang Menang".
Relawan lainnya yang diwawancarai Kompas.com secara acak, juga mengaku sebagai simpatisan PSI.
Nanang (40), hadir dalam acara deklarasi itu karena ia adalah simpatisan PSI sejak lama.
"Iya, simpatisan juga. Simpatisan Kaesang dan PSI," kata Nanang.
Warga Jakarta Selatan itu mengatakan, kedatangannya ke Depok itu merupakan bentuk dukungan kepada kawan-kawannya yang menginginkan Kaesang maju sebagai Calon Wali Kota Depok.
"Iya (KTP Jakarta Selatan), tapi kan dekat dan ada banyak kepentingan juga di Depok," ungkap Nanang.
Sama dengan Nanang, Mardi (32) juga mengaku dirinya adalah relawan PSI.
Warga Depok ini mengaku setuju dengan sikap PSI yang hendak mengusung Kaesang sebagai calon wali kota Depok.
"Alasannya mau mendukung. Mendukung kandidat untuk membawa perubahan di Kota Depok," ucap dia.
PSI merupakan partai yang sejak awal menggadang-gadang agar putra Presiden Joko Widodo itu maju sebagai calon wali kota Depok.
Dukungan PSI terhadap Kaesang Pangarep baru-baru ini terlihat pada pemasangan baliho raksasa di Jalan Margonda, Depok, Jawa Barat.
Jalan Margonda adalah salah satu jalur penghubung utama dari Depok menuju Jakarta.
Tampak foto Kaesang yang tengah memegang bunga mawar dan logo PSI. Baliho tersebut bertuliskan “PSI Menang, Walikota Kaesang”.
Ketua Bapilu PSI Kota Depok, Icuk Pramana Putra mengatakan, dukungan itu didasari oleh respons warga Kota Depok semenjak partainya menggaungkan Kaesang sebagai calon wali kota pada akhir Maret 2023.
"Selama dua bulan terakhir kader-kader kami menyampaikan usulan ini kepada masyarakat Depok dan ternyata banyak yang menyambut dengan antusias," kata Icuk dalam tertulisnya, Senin (22/5/2023).
Icuk pun mengaku sudah berkomunikasi langsung dengan Kaesang terkait pemberian dukungan itu.