Avoid Politicizing SARA in Elections

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

A mural of the Anti-SARA campaign in the General Election depicted on the wall of the Dukuh Atas area, Jakarta, Friday (19/6/2020).

SURABAYA, KOMPAS — The Indonesian Rectors Forum (FRI) invites all components of the nation to avoid the traps of the misuse of identity politics in the form of politicizing ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup (SARA) in the general election. The politicization of SARA could potentially cause conflict, violence, damage unity and tarnish the noble values of the life of the nation and state.

These were some of the recommendations made at the Indonesian Rectors Forum conference which were read out at the 28th Campus Convention and the 24th Annual FRI Meeting at the Airlangga University Convention Center in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday (30/10/2022). In this event, the rector of Airlangga University, Mohammad Nasih, was inaugurated as chairman of the FRI for the 2022-2023 period.

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In the recommendations read by Rochmat Wahab, a member of the FRI Honorary Council and former rector of the Yogyakarta State University, the FRI also invites citizens to use the election as a medium for political education in the development of noble national morals. Honesty, moral exemplary and civilized contestation must be put forward in a democratic system.

The FRI also encourages all parties to avoid political competition that ignores moral values and is trapped in the struggle for power. People are invited to participate actively, critically and constructively as a form of noble and dignified citizenship. On this occasion, the FRI also conveyed a number of recommendations in the fields of law and education.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Mahfud MD

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD in his closing remarks reminded universities, including the rectors, that they are shepherds of the nation's generation that will lead or organize the country’s future. The campus and rectors play an important role in democracy in accordance with the mandate of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. “Freedom, unity, sovereignty, justice, and prosperity. That's what I think Golden Indonesia 2045 is," he said.

Political party programs

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem), Titi Anggraini, said that in the past, political identity was attached to party institutions. As a result, various types of parties were formed, including those from religious groups. At that time, the struggle was inherent in party-based political identity and was carried out through programs offered at elections.

However, identity politics is currently attached to individuals who tend to lead an emotional approach. It is not built with a programmatic approach. “What is happening is no longer identity politics, but the hegemony of identity politics which prohibits the involvement of other groups. In many ways it is attached to hate politics, so it does not have any program offers or ideas in it,” said Titi.

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

A mural containing an anti-SARA campaign in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (27/2/2019).

According to Titi, the clarity of the programs brought by the party is necessary to minimize the hegemony of identity with hatred. Voters need to be invited to think about and discuss ideas and programs for parties or contestants competing in elections. This, at the same time, educates voters to continue dialogue, builds discourse and strengthens party arguments in offering their ideas.

Identity politics, said Titi, can be fought in a massive way and involves the role of many people. This is because identity politics does not happen instantly, nor does programmatic politics. The earlier parties build interaction with voters, the better, especially since the campaign period in the 2024 general election is relatively short.

The Kompas Research and Development (Litbang) survey in June 2022 noted that the party's work program as well as the party's vision and mission were the reasons for 26.5 percent of respondents in choosing a political party. This reason is slightly below the presence of influential figures at 27.6 percent (Kompas, 6/9/2022).

A lecturer in political science at the University of Indonesia, Aditya Perdana, said that party programs help organizations have an agenda. In addition, it is important for the public to know the issues that the party is fighting for. The hope is that it can help voters when political contestation arrives.

However, according to Aditya, parties in Indonesia still do not have ideologies that seem different from one another. As a result, existing parties tend to address a number of issues in the same way. He also said that parties will be more effective in conveying ideas when they understand the segmentation of their audience. For example, voters from Generation Z and millennials need issues that are directly related to their lives.

Yesterday, the National Awakening Party (PKB) held the “PKB Road to 2024 Elections” at the Gelora Bung Karno Complex in Jakarta. In the event, general chairperson of the PKB Muhaimin Iskandar in his political speech conveyed the programs that the PKB will fight for ahead of the 2024 General Election. Among other things, the PKB will fight for and succeed in the free electricity program for the poor. Another issue being fought for is the availability of fertilizer for farmers. Also included in the PKB agenda is the issue of the price of fuel oil (BBM). According to Muhaimin, the PKB also takes part to control the price of fuel, especially for motorcycles and public transportation.

The PKB also plans to oversee programs for young entrepreneurs in the form of capital assistance without collateral and without interest. The PKB will also fight for an increase in pension funds for TNI-Polri (the Indonesian Military and National Police) and those who serve the nation. (BRO/NIA/Z17)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).