Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) senior politician Hidayat Nur Wahid has shrugged off accusations that his party had become a subordinate to Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq Shihab following the establishment of a coalition dubbed "the ummah alliance."
"We, political parties, will not be in the position under Rizieq Shihab," said Hidayat at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, June 8.
Previously, the Democratic Party's central executive board chairman Ferdinand Hutahaean said his party would not join the alliance as it would seem that its members were Rizieq's subordinates.Hidayat further explained that PKS would not be in the position under Rizieq Shihab, nor had Rizieq placed himself above the political parties in the political coalition.
Hidayat said the formation of the coalition was based on a collective agreement between political parties and Rizieq Shihab regarding the 2019 presidential election.
"The coalition had been formed before we arrived in Mecca," said Hidayat. The parties that are already in the coalition are Gerindra, PKS, PAN, and PBB.
The "ummah alliance" was initiated by Rizieq Shihab, the FPI leader who has been implicated in several criminal cases in Indonesia. Rizieq is currently staying in Mecca.