Searching for a Rarity

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

A man walks past a mural of the face of former Indonesian President KH Abdurrahman Wahid or familiarly called Gus Dur on Jalan H Ba'an, Poris Plawad Indah, Tangerang City, Banten, Sunday (16/5/2021). The figure of Gus Dur is famous for his tolerance and pluralism.

The Kompas poll on Monday (11/4/2022) has shined a light on this country’s longing for a guru bangsa (national teacher) who prioritizes the interests of the nation and the state.

Guru bangsa are defined as individuals who have no political ambitions but still prioritize the interests of the nation and the state. During the book discussion several years ago on Mencari Negarawan: 85 Tahun Buya Ahmad Syafii Maarif (Seeking statesmen: 85 years of Buya Ahmad Syafii Maarif), a speaker said that searching for a statesman was the same as looking for something that did not exist. This applied to not just in Indonesia, but in the world, too.

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A statesman, or a muezzin of the nation, to borrow the term of Alois A. Nugroho in Muazin Bangsa dari Makkah Darat (2015; The nation’s muezzin arrives from Mecca), is someone who always calls for the good, not for personal or group interests, but for the national interest. This figure is someone who does not want to be involved in power politics or day-to-day politics, and stands as a moral guardian towards the nation’s ideals of independence.

This country once had such figures, such as Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Nurcholish Madjid, and several others, perhaps. Their integrity is equal to that of the statesman or guru bangsa that is missing from the country. Today, this country is mostly made up of politicians who only think about power and the elections. Meanwhile, a statesman is someone who thinks about the future generations.

KOMPAS/LUCKY PRANSISKA

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Akil Mochtar leaves the Corruption Eradication Commission Building after undergoing an examination, Thursday (3/10/2013). Akil was caught red-handed accepting bribes and became a suspect in the alleged bribery case in the dispute over the regional head elections of Lebak Regency, Banten and Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan..

We are all increasingly saddened by our historical record of contemporary politics, seeing how our politicians behave today. Just look at how the chairman of a political party proposed that the elections be postponed for another two to three years. Look at how we were told that changing the Constitution was an arena restricted to political parties – to seek power by violating the Constitution. They didn’t seem to care that their statements have the potential to unite the nation’s children.

Fortunately, there are still academics with common sense who speak up and political parties that still vow to protect the nation, uphold the Constitution and hold regular elections. This nation is still longing for a guru bangsa, as reflected in the results of the Kompas poll. Protecting the nation is certainly expected from religious communities and educational institutions, too.

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Using a textual and legal approach, a statesman is a justice of the Constitution. In fact, the Constitution states that constitutional justices are statesmen who manage the Constitution. But in practice, this “statesman” has turned out to be just an ordinary, power-hungry individual, so the nation has the right to be disappointed. Two constitutional justices have already been jailed for corruption.

However, not all hope is lost. Religious communities and scholars must answer the nation’s calls. This is a nation that longs for a guru bangsa, and it turns its hopes to religious communities and academics. Hopefully, they can answer this call.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.