Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has denied that it will replace its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, amid the ongoing investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in relation to the hunt for former party member and graft fugitive Harun Masiku.
Said Abdullah, an executive of PDI-P's central board, insisted that the party had never discussed replacing Hasto.
"Until now, I have not heard of this matter, and it has never been discussed at the party's central board meeting. [...] That means there will be no replacing the party's secretary-general," Said was quoted by Kompas TV as saying on Monday.
Said, who is a lawmaker at the House of Representatives, described the rumors about Hasto's replacement over concern that it would cause internal turmoil as a "one-sided assessment".
"Because we come from a belief that Hasto, as secretary-general, has been transparent and above board in handling every internal party problem," he added.
The graft agency questioned Hasto for hours earlier this month as a witness in relation to the search for graft fugitive Harun.
The questioning occurred after the KPK said it was working to collect evidence on alleged efforts by unnamed suspects to hide Harun.
The former PDI-P member has been at large for four years after the KPK named him a suspect in bribing a General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner to secure a seat in the House through the interim replacement mechanism.
The case was left in abeyance for four years until President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and the PDI-P, the party that catapulted him to power, recently parted ways.
Hasto has been a staunch critic of Jokowi's alleged interference in February's presidential election, in which president-elect Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of the President, scored a landslide victory.
The PDI-P has claimed the KPK's move is politically motivated after the graft agency seized Hasto's cell phones and a "black book", allegedly containing information about Harun's whereabouts and documents about the PDI-P's preparations for the Nov. 27 regional head elections.