TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - First Daughter Kahiyang Ayu and Bobby Afif Nasution’s wedding sparked an allegation that marriage is linked to the upcoming 2019 Presidential Election. However, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan dismissed the allegation.

“What’s political [about the marriage]? It is political if it involves [political figures],” Luhut said at Kahiyang-Bobby wedding reception in Medan, North Sumatera on Saturday, November 26.

The allegation was based on the loss of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi in four Tapanuli’s regencies during the 2014 Presidential Election. The regencies are Padang Lawas, North Padang Lawas, South Tapanuli, and Mandailing Natal. The regions house Mandailing people where Jokowi’s son in-law Bobby Nasution was born.

Luhut hopes the public would not spread negative opinions about Kahiyang-Bobby’s marriage.

“They are celebrating their happiness. Let’s not make negative comments,” Luhut said.

Luhut explained that Jokowi’s in-laws are regular people. Therefore, the marriage, he asserted, is free of political interests.

IIL ASKAR MONDZA