CIDISS. As a pluralistic country with a variety of tribes, races, and religions, the existence of a community and religious group influences the course of elections of regional heads in the region. This is particularly influential in remote rural areas where the values of adat and religion are so strong that local people make their choice also based on the choices taken by religious leaders and the local community. Especially, the importance of religious-based organizations, given Indonesia is a country with a majority of Muslims scattered throughout the region.
In fact, this urgency was also captured by Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo so he asked for a forum of religious harmony to be neutral during the election of regional head 2018 implemented. Moreover, the forum has a great influence on religious groups to the regions. Religious harmony forums have a considerable influence on policy making in the regions so that the non-neutrality of this forum will certainly change the map of politics as well as maps of support for the election of regional heads in each region.
The role of religious harmony forum in this forum is formed by local community and become partner of local government to give policy recommendation related to harmony of the congregation. The importance of their role makes the Minister of Home Affairs instruct regional heads to improve the role and function of religious harmony forum and provide budget support in carrying out every activity.
The neutrality of religious harmony forums is important, since the non-neutrality of this forum can be used by certain parties to get votes that can contribute to the results of regional head elections in the region. Do not let the inconsistency of religious harmony forums become a means for prospective heads of regions to obtain votes in a way that is contrary to the law.
By: Mirwan Achmad *)
