By: Abdul Hakim)*
President Joko Widodo has instructed his cabinet never again to call for a postponement of the election. All parties need to exercise restraint and refrain from conducting demonstrations because they have the potential to disrupt conduciveness in the month of Ramadan.
The discourse on postponing the election or extending the office of the President must end. President Joko Widodo has explicitly given instructions to the ranks of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet not to mention the postponement of the 2024 General Election and narratives related to the 3rd term president. This firm statement is intended to prevent polemics in the community. In fact, according to President Jokowi, it would be better if all ranks of the cabinet focused on dealing with the problems at hand.
Furthermore, President Jokowi also stated that although there are still voices regarding the postponement or extension of the 2024 General Election, it is better for the ministers to be able to explain what steps have been taken by the Government so far to the public properly and be more sensitive and sensitive to the difficulties that arise. currently happening, such as the global situation, the government’s efforts to deal with the crisis to how to increase inflation.
For the firmness of the attitude that has been issued by President Jokowi, suddenly not a few parties have given their appreciation. One of them is Mchael Umbas as the General Chair of the DPP Arus Bawah Jokowi (ABJ) who considers that the current President really understands how the public is anxious because of the increase in a number of staple foods.
It is precisely such an attitude of empathy that is necessary and must be possessed by every line in the Cabinet, especially since we are currently still in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has not yet ended. The Minister’s job is actually to assist the president in carrying out all his work programs, not to create something that has the potential to become a polemic in the community.
In addition, his firm stance by instructing his cabinet to discuss the postponement of the election is in full accordance with the constitutional provisions contained in Article 22E paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution, in that article it is explicitly stated that elections must be held every 5 years. Then in the 1945 Constitution Article 7 also clearly stipulates the term of office of the president who can only serve for two terms.
Meanwhile, another appreciation also came from the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, regarding the President’s firm response to the issue of the 3 periods. Puan said that for now, it is better for the entire cabinet to focus on restoring the people’s economy. Because it is clear that the people will need a solution more about how the prices of basic necessities do not continue to rise and are easy to obtain, especially in the period leading up to Lebaran like this.
On the other hand, there are parties who voice that they strongly reject the idea of postponing the election. They are young people who are members of the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) who apparently had several demonstrations at a number of points. This refusal actually does not need to be carried out to carry out a large-scale action because in fact, even without the need to protest, President Joko Widodo himself has explained and emphasized, he even reprimanded if any of his staff were still discussing the postponement of the 2024 election.
The demonstration plan that will be carried out by BEM SI on April 11, 2022, of course needs to be canceled. This is because President Jokowi has firmly ordered all ministers to stop discussing extending their term of office or postponing the election. The mass mobilization, which is certainly not small in number, might actually create conditions that are not conducive for Muslims who are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan as it is today. Everyone is expected to work together to discuss something much more critical and also actively participate in creating conduciveness for the month of Ramadan.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Institute of Strategic Information Studies (LSISI)