One Day After Hasto's Arrest, PDI-P Elite Gather at Megawati's Residence

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A day after the Corruption Eradication Commission detained the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto, the Chairwoman of PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri, gathered the party elites at her residence on Jalan Teuku Umar, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Friday (21/2/2025).

Previously, Megawati issued an instruction for regional heads from PDI-P to postpone their travel to the regional heads' retreat event in Magelang scheduled for February 21-28, 2025.

From Kompas' monitoring until 13.00 WIB, the PDI-P leaders who were present at Megawati's residence were PDI-P DPP Chairman Said Abdullah, PDI-P Chairman Ahmad Basarah, and Hasto Kristiyanto's Legal Team, Ronny Talapessy.

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, who is also the former Secretary-General of PDI-P, Pramono Anung, was also mentioned to have visited Megawati's residence, but he left the house earlier at around 11:00 AM WIB.

Meanwhile, Said was seen leaving Megawati's residence at around 1:20 PM WIB. When asked about the topics discussed with Megawati, Said simply replied, "Nothing at all."

He also admitted that he was on an assignment and in a hurry, which is why he left Megawati's residence. However, he was unwilling to elaborate further on the assignment in question.

When asked about Megawati's instructions to regional heads from PDI-P, Said declined to answer. However, Said commented on the statement by Indonesia's 7th President, Jokowi, urging all regional heads to continue attending the retreat in Magelang, Central Java. According to him, Megawati's instructions are for internal PDI-P matters and not the concern of external parties. "Well, this is a party matter, an internal affair, not the business of outsiders," he said.

On Thursday (20/2/2025) evening, Megawati issued instructions to all regional heads and deputy regional heads from the PDI-P to postpone their trip to the regional head retreat in Magelang, Central Java, 21-28 February 2025.

"If you are on your way to Magelang City, stop and wait for further instructions from the general chairman," as quoted from letter number 7294/IN/DPP/II/2025.

In the letter of instruction signed directly by Megawati, it was also stated that the instruction was issued as a result of observing the dynamics of national politics, especially after the criminalization of Hasto by law at the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK).

Still in the instruction letter, regional heads are expected to remain in active communication and stand by commander call.

Said continued, besides himself, there was Pramono at Megawati's residence, but Pramono had already left. Said did not answer when asked whether or not the Governor of DKI Jakarta had left for the retreat in Magelang. "I was with Mas Pram. Mas Pram has returned. I have a task, my task as a party cadre," he said.

Previously, Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo, who is also a PDI-P cadre, admitted to receiving information that Pramono Anung was scheduled to meet Megawati today. The meeting was to discuss the issue of the regional head's retreat.

According to Hasto Wardoyo, a number of regional heads from PDI-P plan to gather at the office of the PDI-P Regional Leadership Council of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The regional heads gathered at the PDI-P DIY DPD because of a letter from PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri instructing the regional heads from the party to postpone their trip to the regional head retreat in Magelang. The activity is planned to start this Friday.

When asked whether he would go to Magelang to attend the retreat, Hasto said he would wait for directions at the DIY PDI-P DPD office. "We will follow the directions here," he said.

Separately, the Regent of Central Tapanuli, Masinton Pasaribu, decided to postpone his departure to Magelang, Central Java, for the regional head retreat which will take place from 21-28 February.

According to Masinton, he will temporarily postpone his departure to Magelang. He also admitted that he is currently still in Jakarta. "I am temporarily postponing my departure to Magelang until there are further instructions from Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri," said Masinton.

Regarding the government's duties in Central Tapanuli Regency, he has divided the tasks with Deputy Regent Mahmud Efendi who will return to Central Tapanuli first. On Monday (24/2/2025), Mahmud will directly lead a meeting with regional officials.

He also responded regarding the purpose of holding the regional head retreat, namely so that there is synchronization of central and regional programs. According to Masinton, even if he does not attend the retreat, the president's priority programs must remain in line with development in the regions.

"Certainly, the tasks of regional government must be in line with the central government, especially the President's priority development programs in the regions of Indonesia," he said.

In addition, four regional heads in West Java who are PDI-P cadres have also postponed attending the retreat. Chairman of the West Java PDI-P Regional Leadership Council (DPD) Ono Surono said that the four regional heads are Pangandaran Regent Citra Pitriyami, Cirebon Regent Imron Rosyadi, Bekasi Regent Ade Kuswara, and Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto.

Ono said that the implementation of this retreat is not regulated in legislation. Therefore, the party is still reviewing its urgency. Regarding the potential disruption of central and regional synergy that the central government wants to build through the retreat, Ono said that central-regional synergy has been regulated in legislation.

The leadership orientation or often referred to as the regional head retreat at the Magelang Military Academy was originally planned to be attended by 505 regional heads from the 2024 Regional Head Elections.

Based on the data from the 2024 Pilkada Winners Supported by PDI-P, it is known that there are 167 PDI-P cadres who were elected, either as regional heads or deputy regional heads as a result of the 2024 Pilkada. In detail, there are nine cadres who were elected for the provincial region and 158 at the district/city level.