It is worth noting that since concurrent regional elections in 2015 through 2018, there have been dozens of sole candidate pairs. The only sole candidate pair that has been defeated was the one in Makassar mayoral election (Munafri Arifuddin-Andi Rahmatika Dewi).
By
J. KRISTIADI
·4 minutes read
Inanimate objects cannot move themselves. Yet, sometimes they can be so powerful, defeating the explosive energy allegedly moved by the power holder. Indeed, they can ridicule the power holder that tries to crush them. That is the meaning of the blank ballot box that won the recent mayoral election in Makassar. The blank box did not mean nothing. In this context, the emptiness is not associated with being blank or zero but rather (suwung) vacant.
Literally, according to an Indonesian-language dictionary, the word means no permanent job or silent. But, the literal meaning could be misleading and not reveal the mystery in the victory of the blank box. It is worth noting that since concurrent regional elections in 2015 through 2018, there have been dozens of sole candidate pairs. The only sole candidate pair that has been defeated was the one in Makassar mayoral election (Munafri Arifuddin-Andi Rahmatika Dewi/Appi-Cicu).
Interpreting the word suwung may be more correct from the perspective of national wisdom and through academic studies. From a broader perspective, suwung (emptying one’s mind) means the ability to clear the mind from the excitement of the outside world, especially the capacity to prevent the intention to conduct manipulative actions for personal interest. If someone can do that, he or she is able to reach silence (spiritual achievement) or peak experience (Abraham Maslow, 2001).
Through such meditation, the mystery of the blank box victory defeating humans could be understood more clearly. To be clear, the ballot box is empty but it contains the spirit of powerful resistance that can defeat humans. Symbolically, under black or white dichotomy, winning or losing, most of the voters in Makassar prefer to be led by an inanimate object. It is not an exaggeration if we call it a political tragedy as a result of political acrobatics and comedy of the political elite.
Meanwhile, under the people and power perspective, the ability of the blank box to defeat political powers is a manifestation of the great power of the people. The political event turns into a comical one because it turns the logic upside down. How was it that the incumbent pair Danny Pamanto-Indira Mulyasari Paramusti, with electability and public confidence at 80 percent, was dumped by 10 political parties (Celebes Research Centre). It was more comical that the political parties were too deaf to hear the people’s voice.
Initially, they all supported the incumbent. But, in less than three months, because they were more comfortable, they shifted to support the candidate, who had lower electability. The people consider the political elites, especially the political parties, are doing comical act in politics. Yet, it is better than bringing the identity and sectarian issues into politics.
It is almost certain that such irrationality drives the sane people laugh out loud to hear argumentation from those defending the losing candidate. The defeat of Appi-Cicu, who reportedly is the relative of state officials, is a metaphor of the people’s resistance against the power, according to Ferry Juliantono, the deputy chairman of Gerindra Party (Liputan6, June 5, 2018).
Learning from the victory of the blank box, the politicians competing in the legislative election and presidential election in 2019, although the chance for the blank box phenomenon is slim, it is hoped that they stop trying to just win the ambition for power. Such an action would make the political elites aware of the fact that the election was just not about victory but an instrument to get a mandate, power and trust from the people to fight for the public interest.
Many people are pessimistic about politics because there are many deviations from the political norms. Allowing the ambition for power disrupt the mind and thought to win the competition but without the soul, the state institutions are identical with soulless objects.
Regardless of the tragedy and comedy relating to the blank box victory in the Makassar mayoral election, political jokes are normal as social and political criticism and catharsis to channel social explosion, mainly the sectarian ones so that the unity in society is not disrupted.
J. Kristiadi, Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)