Ahmad Sahroni Claims Anies-AHY Was Never Guaranteed

Tokyo, Japan - On the 4th of September 2023, DPR Member Ahmad Sahroni announced an initial intention to file a report against Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Head of Partai Demokrat’s High Assembly. He visited the Bareskrim office and was ready to report SBY for what he claims to be the spreading of false information relating to Anies’ pick for vice president, but in the end did not end up submitting the report.

“Clarifying what has been stated by Mr. SBY that Anies-AHY would be declared early September. I can categorically state that this statement (plan for declaration) did not exist, but Mr. SBY requesting the declaration for the 3rd of September is true. So what have been stated by Mr. SBY are mere lies. There is no plan (In part of the Coalition of Change for Unity) to pair up Anies-AHY, so this is not true. In 2 hours I was in that room (When accompanying Anies to meet SBY) only to receive the story of Mr. SBY’s experience when going through the process of being a presidential candidate in 2004.” Said Mr. Sahroni in Bareskrim’s office. (4/09/23)

It appears that Ahmad Sahroni’s concern is not due to Demokrat leaking Anies’ vice presidential pick, but apparently for claiming that Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) was already assured by Anies’ coalition to be the vice presidential candidate.

This comes after members of Partai Demokrat repeatedly claimed that the party had been betrayed by Anies’ Coalition of Change for Unity and pulled out of the coalition with this justification, ending its support for Anies Baswedan and as of the time of this article officially being part of no coalition at all.

As part of its evidence, Partai Demokrat published a letter from Anies to AHY which contained a message seeming to solicit AHY to become Anies’ Vice President.

“Honourable Mr. AHY, I hope you are in good health, still productive, and still in God’s grace."

With this short message, we intend to convey our hope that Mr. AHY (You) are willing to be my running mate in the 2024 election.” (25/08/23) According to claims by the Head of the Strategic Communications Body of the Central Leadership Council of Partai Demokrat, Herzaky Mahendra Putra.

According to Mr. Sahroni, the reason he did not submit the report in the end was due to a phone call with Surya Paloh, the Chairman of NasDem, the party from which Mr. Sahroni comes from. Apparently, Surya Paloh forbade Sahroni to file the report after Sahroni told him of what he intended to do.

In the end, the report was not submitted, but the fact that it was considered in the first place by a prominent politician of NasDem showcases the increasingly tense relationship between NasDem and Demokrat after Cak Imin was selected as Anies’ vice presidential candidate.

In any case, it is objectively a good thing that cooler heads prevailed and Surya Paloh did the right thing by discouraging the filing of a report, which would have been a criminal complaint. It would be a bad thing for the Republic if political decision making are fired back by criminal prosecution.