Kebumen, Central Java (Antara Babel) - A local cadre of presidential candidate Joko Widodo's Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) in Central Java has declared support to rival candidate Prabowo Subianto here on Thursday.
Rustriningsih, the PDIP figure who is also a former deputy governor of Central Java, which is one of PDIP's strongholds, has declared her support to Prabowo at her residence on the occasion of her 47th birthday before Prabowo's running mate Hatta Rajasa.
"I, Rustriningsih, along with my supporters, declare that we will support, elect, and vote for the Prabowo-Hatta duo in the presidential election in 2014," she said reading the declaration before hundreds of her supporters.
She pointed out that among the reasons why she has shifted her support to Prabowo was her commitment to establish a clean government.
She said she had been monitoring for a long time including the presidential debates so far before taking the decision.
She said during the debates the Prabowo-Hatta pair had spoken much about their commitment in establishing a clean government.
Rustriningsih, who is also the former district head of Kebumen, said however good a management is, it would be useless unless commitment to a clean government is emphasized.
"I have observed during my service so far that good management is meaningless if courage and firm action are absent," she said.
Rustriningsih, who has so far been known as a noted PDIP cadre, admitted that she had not discussed her decision with the PDIP.
"There has not been any communication," she said.
Asked whether she was worried she would be fired from the party, Rustriningsih said that she might be discharged in view of her husband's experience of having been discharged by the PDIP even though he had done nothing wrong.
With her decision she believed she actually had already been discharged.
In response to Rustriningsih's decision, Hatta Rajasa said he was grateful that a figure with such integrity and capability of managing government had decided to support him.
"This will give us fresh energy and more support from not only Kebumen and Central Java but also nationally," he said.
He said her support will provide strong motivation to the Prabowo-Hatta duo.
"We believe the support to the Prabowo-Hata duo will enhance and with her support the Prabowo-Hatta pair will win in Central Java," he said.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla (JK) campaign, Hasto Kristiyanto, said he was not surprised by Rustriningsih's decision. He noted that earlier during the election for Central Java governor, Rustrinigsih had supported Bibit Waluyo against the PDIP's decision to support Gandjar Pranowo.
He said he believed the Prabowo-Hatta pair's strategy to exploit Rustriningsih will only boomerang.
Despite Rustriningsih's position as Central Java's deputy governor, PDIP had named Ganjar Pranowo, who was then a parliamentary member, as the candidate in the election for the province's governor. Ganjar Pranowo won the election and is currently the governor of Central Java.
Indonesia will conduct a democratic presidential election on July 9, 2014, which will be contested by two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Jokowi-JK.
Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the chairman of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Jokowi is Jakarta's governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, JK, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.
The Prabowo-Hatta pair is supported by Gerindra, PAN, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), the Golkar Party, and the Democrat Party.
The Jokowi-JK pair is supported by five political parties: PDIP, the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Justice and Indonesian Unity Party (PKPI), and the National Democrat Party (Nasdem).
