REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice presidential candidate KH Ma’ruf Amin asserted that his party would not take advantage of activist Ratna Sarumpaet hoax case. His statement came in response to the rumor saying supporters of Prabowo Subianto - Sandiaga Uno pair moved their supports to the incumbent following the case.

“No, we don’t take advantage over the case. It’s not permissible,” said Kiai Ma’ruf who paired with incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in presidential election 2019, on Sunday (Oct 7).

Kiai Ma’ruf refused to comment further. He only said it was normal if many of Prabowo - Sandiaga supporters disappointed by Ratna case.

“I think it’s normal to feel disappointed,” Kiai Ma’ruf added.

Earlier, Executive Director of Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) Djayadi Hanan assessed that Ratna Sarumpaet hoax case would not reduce the electability of Prabowo - Sandiaga pair. He said voters for number 2 candidates pair were solid.

According to Djayadi, in general, Prabowo’s voters are people who dissatisfied with the government's performance under Jokowi. Therefore, they will still consider Prabowo as an alternative choice.

"Because Prabowo's voters are mostly anti-Jokowi. Whatever Prabowo does, they will have justification," said Djayadi.

However, Ratna hoax case brought negative image to Prabowo. Moreover, he has always been suggested as a strong leader, understand the problem, and intelligence, considered his background as an army.

Ratna fake assault case went viral since it was widely mentioned by Prabowo's camp last week. Ratna made the claim and uttered it to her family as an excuse to get cosmetic surgery.

However, some of politicians and national figures also fooled by the senior activist and playwright. She missed the police summon to be questioned as witness on Thursday as she had to attend international playwright conference in Santiago, Chile. The police then named her as suspect and arrested her at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when she was about to bound for Santiago with Turkish Airlines on Thursday night.

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