By: Ahmad Harris *)
Ahead of the 2019 Presidential Election, various kinds of issues are used to drop or obtain voice support from the public. Starting from religious issues, the economy to partiality to foreigners is often used as a weapon by candidates for the 2019 Presidential Election. The strategy of disseminating these issues is often used by the opposition stronghold namely Prabowo-Sandi to overthrow President Jokowi’s vote. One of the main issues at Prabowo’s issue and weapon is the issue of foreign accomplices. In his campaign, Prabowo-Sandi often introduced himself as a hero who would fight foreign forces in Indonesia.
Unfortunately, the issue backfired on itself. On one occasion interviewing Tempo, Prabowo once admitted that he was pro and amazed at America. According to him, if Indonesia wants to move forward, Indonesia must adopt western values. Naturally, if even in his campaign, Prabowo is oriented towards Trump with the slogan “Make Indonesia Great Again”. Melting political strategies by spreading fears like Prabowo’s also very similar to Trump’s strategy in the 2016 US Presidential Election. Instead of delivering his vision and mission, Prabowo actually filled the entire campaign with various fictitious concerns.
Prabowo’s thoughts and strategies seemed to be very different from the impression of an anti-foreign hero he had been presenting. Not only is it opposite, Prabowo actually adopts Western values very well. Unfortunately, this idea betrayed the political aspirations of the Indonesian people who should show their own character. Prabowo’s thinking was in fact very contrary to the Trisakti teachings echoed by Bung Karno, namely sovereign in the political field, independent in the economic field, and with an Indonesian cultural personality. So, how is it possible, a person with pro-American thinking dares to declare himself an anti-foreign hero? Impossible is not of course.
Not only Prabowo, Sandiaga Uno was also staying as one of the entrepreneurs who were anti-foreign. In fact, further away Sandiaga Uno has often been named a pious and obedient person in religion. Starting from the designation of the Santri to the title Ulama was given to Sandiaga Uno even though he did not have a religious education background. Somehow, ahead of the 2019 presidential election, Sandiaga Uno’s religious status has skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the title of Santri and Ulama is very inappropriate to be juxtaposed for him.
While still serving as Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Sandiaga Uno had supported the DWP (Djakarta Warehouse Project), one of the largest annual dance music festivals in Indonesia, which clearly received rejection from a number of Islamic organizations. Because the festival was rejected because of public allegations of the immoral acts that occurred in each of the annual events. In addition, the sale of alcoholic beverages, alcohol, and drugs also became anxieties for the people who rejected the event. Unfortunately, Sandiaga Uno, who is considered a religious obedient figure, and considered a Santri and Ulama, actually supports the DWP event. In fact, he admitted his son also often attended the annual event. This is certainly surprising, only this time there is a figure of Ulama who allows their children to take part in a vulnerable event filled with immoral activities.
Therefore, it is important for the community to judge who is anti-foreign and pro-foreign and who is anti-Islam and pro-Islam. It is impossible for Prabowo, a figure who wants to adopt Western values into Indonesia, as an anti-foreign hero. It is also impossible, Sandiaga Uno can be said to be an Islamic figure if it supports activities that are very contrary to Islamic teachings. Unfortunately, both Prabowo and Sandi never stop echoing their opponents as foreign accomplices and anti-Islamic figures. Is this what is called a thief’s thief? Of course, the community is smart to answer it.
*) FISIP student at the Dharma Agung University