By: Abdul Aziz *
Muchdi Purwoprandjono’s (Muchdi Pr) political maneuver has recently been debated. Unlike the political attitudes of his party, the Deputy General Chair of the Partai Berkaryaactually supported Paslon number 01 in the 2019 Presidential Election, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) – Maruf Amin. Muchdi Purwoprandjono declared his support for a gathering between President Jokowi and retired TNI / Polri at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran on Sunday 10 February 2019.
Muchdi’s support added a long line of figures who transferred support from Prabowo to Jokowi. Just mention Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, Yusril Ihza Mahendra and La Nyalla Mattalitti. Muchdi’s support for Jokowi cannot be underestimated. Given the history of the former Kopassus Danjen experienced in politics. It was recorded, he had joined the Gerindra political party, PPP, until now the Working Party.
Muchdi joined Gerindra since the beginning of the Party chaired by Prabowo Subianto and was founded in February 2008. It was not the trivial position he held in Gerindra, Muchdi once held the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party. He is also a close friend of Prabowo while still active in the military. In 1998, Muchdi served as Kopassus Danjen and Prabowo served as Kostrad Commander. Then on February 18, 2011 in Solo, Central Java, Muchdi Pr declared himself joining the United Development Party (PPP). The statement of joining the PPP was conveyed by Muchdi when meeting a number of PPP leaders in the residence of the former PPP Residency Surakarta Residency Coordinator Mudrick Malkan Setiawan Sangidoe. He joined PPP because he obeyed the desire to join a purely Islamic party.
While his support for Jokowi’s current presidential candidate because he saw Jokowi had done much during his five years of leadership. Clarity of development felt by the Indonesian people, starting from toll roads, port problems, airport problems, industrial problems, and others. According to him, this was not done by anyone’s president for 15 years of reform.
Deputy Chairperson of the Jokowi-Ma’ruf National Campaign Team (TKN) Johnny G Plate appreciated the support of 1,000 retired TNI-Polri officers, including Muchdi. Johnny thought the retired generals wanted to see a developed Indonesia. According to him, that hope can only be entrusted to the Presidential Candidate number 01 Joko Widodo. That is why thousands of retired men decided to support Jokowi-Ma’ruf.
Muchdi’s concern that Indonesia was not on the wrong path because he knew the direction of the route taken by Pak Jokowi was correct could be because finally Muchdi gave support to Jokowi. The choice can be a sign for the community if their seniors only divert their support from Prabowo, meaning Jokowi is considered more capable of leading Indonesia than Prabowo.
*) The author is a student at one of the PTN Jakarta