Ulama Leaders and Experts: Beware of Provocation and Politicization of SARA Issues in the Year of Politics
JAKARTA – In a political year, people are expected to always maintain unity and be wary of provocations and politicization of SARA issues which can be used to divide the nation. The community should also not be easily influenced by statements that become leverage to divide society.
This was conveyed by Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH. Marsudi Syuhud in a dialogue program entitled “Maintaining Unity in the Year of Politics” on the National TV station, Friday (24/2) evening.
He added, the political year has its own characteristics, so when taking a political position will form a variety of situations. Election rituals are also expected to become ordinary rituals so that people are encouraged to remain calm and respond normally, especially if they threaten the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
“The goal of politics is to compose plans for the next five years. The second is to unite, if the people of the nation have been united then they must work together and reduce noise. Therefore, it is hoped that the general election will run safely and comfortably,” said Kyai Marsudi.
Kyai Marsudi Syuhud also stressed that as religious people, we must show tolerance and avoid actions that could damage the unity and integrity of the nation.
“As religious people, we must show tolerance and mutual respect and avoid all forms of action that can damage the unity and integrity of the nation, be it in the form of hate speech, acts of intolerance, or acts of violence,” he stressed.
Regarding the statement by the Chairperson of the PDIP, Megawati Soekarnoputri some time ago, Kyai Marsudi Syuhud believes that when someone talks about a statement or recites it, the one who understands it is the person expressing it.
“If there are other people who respond to that statement, maybe there is something right, maybe there is something wrong. Because for the person responding, it is something of their own interpretation and it can be right or wrong. That’s why there’s a name tabayun, because of course Mrs. Mega doesn’t mean it like that, we have to be husnudzon for the sake of maintaining peace and unity, “he explained.
Not only that, he clarified that the speech actually contained an invitation to the taklim assembly not only to focus on matters of the hereafter, but also world affairs, especially stunting.
“In my opinion, the sentence conveyed is that if possible the taklim assembly does not only concern the afterlife but also world affairs such as stunting,” he added.
According to Kyai Marsudi, the concept of balancing the world and the hereafter, including dealing with stunting, is a religious order.
“So if we are looking for the hereafter, don’t forget the world because in fact the world is the land for the hereafter,” he concluded
On the same occasion, University of Indonesia Political Communication Expert, Dr. Aditya Perdana stated that in this digital era it is not easy because in any way his statement will be cut into pieces according to the interests of the group which will then go viral. This certainly has a purpose because it will spread.
“All parties will probably justify any means in winning the battle during the election. Therefore need to be reminded. Besides that, when there is hoax news, the public needs confidence to always be careful and strengthen digital literacy, including filtering before sharing. Because internet penetration is great and we have to be aware of that, especially regarding issues of ethnicity, religion and preferably,” concluded Aditya.
