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Ex-TNI chief Moeldoko elected for Hanura leadership
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Closing rank: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (third right), Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri (second right) and outgoing Hanura Party chairman Wiranto (fourth right) gather during the opening ceremony of Hanura's extraordinary national congress on Dec. 21 in Jakarta. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
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span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS"">After making a surprise move to appoint an outsider to chair its party, Hanura Party elites have reverted to a more typical rationale by appointing a former military commander to a senior position.
The party has elected former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Moeldoko as a member of its advisory board, alongside former party chairman Wiranto, also a former military chief.
Right after the party inaugurated its new chairman, business man turned-politician Oesman Sapta Odang, it placed Wiranto, who had to vacate the party’s top post to be able to serve in the Cabinet as Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, as the head of its advisory board.
The presence of Wiranto and Moeldoko is expected to boost Hanura’s electability in the 2019 legislative election.
“[Wiranto and Moeldoko] as patrons will create synergy. Oesman, Moeldoko, all party cadres and those who have just joined the party will mutually synergize each other,” Hanura executive Sarifuddin Sudding said.
(Read also: Hanura elects Oesman Sapta as new chairman, keeps Wiranto as chief patron)
Political expert Rachmat Bagja from Al-Azhar University said patron-client relationships in political parties were common and that Hanura was a typical of party that needed influential figures.
“Hanura is in a need of influential figures to join the party and boost its electability and human resources,” Rachmat said.
“Wiranto and Moeldoko continue to enjoy popularity because many people are still interested in a military-led system,” he added.
Although it was Oesman at the helm, the party would likely still be under the control of Wiranto, alongside Moeldoko, because Oesman was a newcomer, Rachmat said.
Another political expert, Hendri Satrio of Paramadina University, said the presence of Wiranto, Oesman and Moeldoko would bring the party, who had the least seats at the House of Representatives, to another level.
“All the big parties should be careful of Hanura’s crafty political maneuvering,” Hendri said.
(Read also: Hanura members resign over Ahok support)
Oesman is also People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, his second time in the position, and is a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) for West Kalimantan.
The businessman is expected to help the party financially and increase the party’s influence, something that Oesman has showed in his first few days since being inaugurated.
A day after Oesman’s inauguration on Wednesday, former Democratic Party (DP) chairman Anas Urbaningrum reportedly instructed his supporters to jump ship and join Hanura.
Anas is currently behind bars serving an eight-year sentence for his role in the Hambalang sports complex graft case.
“We will welcome them all. Why not? As long as they have good work [backgrounds],” Oesman said.
DPD member Gede Pasek Suardika, who is also a former DP politician and Anas loyalist, has declared his allegiance to Hanura.
Gede added that a number of DPD members were willing to join the party.
Hanura politician Miryam S. Haryani said there were 34 DPD members, including those from East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, West Java and East Java, who wanted to join the party, where 17 had officially become members.
“Oesman’s appointment has been a breath of fresh air for the party. The possibility of Hanura winning in the next legislative election has greatly increased. We shouldn’t miss the opportunity,” Miryam said.
