Jakarta –
Chairman of the Regional Executive Council of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (psi extension) in DKI Jakarta, Michael Victor Sianipar, has resigned from the party carrying the rose. Michael stated that the decision was made because he no longer believed that the political struggle he had had could be continued at the PSI.
“I have been a PSI member since 2015, and was also a city-level administrator at the DPP. I have done many things with my PSI colleagues. But with a heavy heart the time has come for me to step down from the party I love.” Michael said in his statement on Monday (5/12/2022).
Michael was the President of PSI Jakarta from 2017 until he resigned at the end of 2022. Previously, Michael also served as the President of PSI City of Central Jakarta in 2015-2017 and the PSI DPP Administrator in 2021-2022. During Michael’s time in Jakarta, the PSI won eight DPRD seats in Jakarta province in the 2019 general election.
“When I joined PSI, this party was still a blank puck, full of aspirations and hopes. Many young people were attracted by the image we were able to build for PSI. We built PSI in Jakarta from scratch, completely unknown to become a powerful political force being considered in Jakarta,” Michael said.
At PSI Jakarta, Michael admits to encouraging organizational and party methods that uphold the principles of transparency, meritocracy, objectivity and professionalism. Indeed, the selection of candidates in Jakarta is defined as competitive and transparent because it involves panelists and public tests.
“As long as I am the President of Jakarta, I make sure that the party runs in a professional manner. The financing of the party can be accounted for and there are financial reports and annual performance reports that can be read by the public. It is impossible for PSI Jakarta to express transparency and responsibility in the DKI provincial government if we do not apply these principles ourselves internally,” said Michael.
For the past five years, Michael has overseen the PSI to become a critical force in Jakarta’s DPRD and become an opposition party in the 2017-2022 government of Governor Anies Baswedan. Under Michael’s leadership, PSI Jakarta has often criticized the previous governor’s policies, especially in overseeing Jakarta’s budget.
“Five years I make sure PSI Jakarta has been consistent as a counterweight to Governor Anies. We remain critical, we were also at the forefront of pushing for the interpellation at the time. I make sure PSI Jakarta made an effort to be critical but it remains objective and constructive,” said Michael, who had become Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama’s personal staff.
Michael expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to develop his vision and expertise as a politician while holding PSI Jakarta.
“I am grateful for the given opportunity, for the friendship and collaboration with many colleagues of the PSI. However, with the passage of time, the party that I imagined and aspired to, that I knew at the beginning, has now changed a lot. It is Time for me to say goodbye and leave PSI,” Michael said.
(rfs/gbr)
