Oh God PSI. I don’t think many people knows how PSI works.
On the top of the party’s hierarchy, we know there is Founder and Party Leader Grace Natalie.
She was a reporter for various media outlets. In 2009, she was in the list of FHM 100 Indonesia’s sexiest women. She’s not part of Indonesia’s wealthiest. But starting up and running a political party is expensive business. PSI therefore, like few others, take donors from consortiums in the private sector for financing.
But what differs PSI from the rest is that the vast majority of their financing is not provided by the founder of the party (or at least from family wealth like Megawati’s PDIP, Hashim and Prabowo’s Gerindra, SBY’s Demokrat). Instead they hold “fundraisers” as a mask to cover the big donors from publicity. Something the ever-nosy Fahri Hamzah has repeatedly teased them about. But no one, especially PSI, dares report him for slander on this because it will turn the people’s focus on this issue.
If you’ve been part of business deals you know exactly how this determines the dynamics of the relationship between the party “leader” and its “donors”.
Additionally Grace Natalie has never had any experience in the public sector. Not a single career in any Government institutions. After her TV career she worked at Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC), a research and consulting firm which has been working closely with Jokowi’s government on data collection, surveys etc. SMRC’s research is often used by the current Government (and some media outlets) as primary source for metrics such as electability, government performance, people’s satisfaction etc.
So what does Grace Natalie bring to PSI?
A well polished public relations skills and close connections to SMRC, the current Government’s preferred research and survey firm.
But who really runs the party? 2 names are listed in their website.
Bro Sunny Tanuwidjaja
Bro Sunny Tanuwidjaja was Ahok’s (unofficial) staff member. He was involved in the Jakarta reclamation graft case that got DPRD DKI member Mohamad Sanusi imprisoned. The case also brought Agung Sedayu Group boss Sugianto Kusuma “Aguan” to be called by KPK. Although neither him nor Bro Sunny was convicted. During the case, Bro Sunny claims:
"Intinya saya memang menerima informasi dari pengembang dan saya menyampaikannya kepada Pak Gubernur dan eksekutif. Kadang Pak Ahok bisa bertemu mereka sendiri, tetapi kadang minta dibantu untuk saya jadwalkan,"
“Essentially i receive information from the developers and bring it over to the Governor (Ahok) and the executives. Sometimes Mr Ahok go to meet them himself, but sometimes he ask me to schedule it”
Ahok’s relationship with the developers was not exactly smooth. He knows the importance of the reclamation project to Jakarta’s future, but at the same time he gets in occasional conflicts with the developers to make sure that the average citizens could enjoy as much benefit from the project.
It would be naive to assume that Bro Sunny would have equally benevolent intentions as Ahok. They are from very different backgrounds who served different functions in the political machine. Sunny’s record is that of a lobbyist representing the private sector (in this case the property conglomerates) to the Government. While Ahok worked his way up as a public servant. Different people, different background, different motives.
Bro Jeffrie Geovanie
Bro Jeffrie Geovanie is probably one of the few early people in PSI who actually had experience in legislation. He has moved around quite a lot, having been members of PAN, Golkar and NasDem. It is apparent therefore that he is a key piece for PSI to try and get influence in DPR.
Despite the media giving the impression that the political factions are hostile towards each other, in reality they often cooperate together in achieving a common goal in different regions. In this regard, Bro Jeffrie’s influence among the DPR members is not yet tested for us to evaluate.
That’s the structure in the top level. But what about the soldiers (party cadres)?
Here is a video of Tsamara Amany, PSI’s poster girl who is showcased as the brightest star in the new and ambitious party. Debating against a member of Hanura, who is also a pro-Jokowi faction.
Debat Seru PSI - Hanura Soal Larangan Mantan Napi Korupsi Jadi Caleg -Tsamara Amany
Watch the video and you can see how uninformed she is regarding the process of legislation and government bureaucracy in general. Can we blame her though? She has absolutely no experience. And that’s their brightest star.
I also have a friend around my age (mid 20s) who has never joined any organization in university. Wasn’t a cum laude student. Has not had an established career. And 2 years ago (before he got into politics) probably couldn’t name half of the political parties in Indonesia. But he went for caleg (legislative elections) with PSI using his father’s money.
PSI is aiming to swarm the positions in the Government with their highly eager but naive youngsters.
And do they sell? Apparently yes.
They are young, full of energy.
They say good and politically correct things.
They are attractive. They all probably even smell like peach and lavender.
I think many members of parliament really showed restrain from commenting badly on PSI.
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