Experts Call on Strengthening the Shield of Pancasila, Preventing Ideological Clashes in Indonesian Political Dynamics
Jakarta – Ahead of the 2024 Election, a number of parties, from experts to the government, are highlighting issues that need to be of common concern. One of them is related to the flexible power of Pancasila.
Observer of national and global strategic issues, Prof. Ambassador Imron Cotan in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) themed “Pancasila: Dynamics and Challenges Faced?” which was held by the Moya Institute at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (25/5/2023), argued that Pancasila had been tested by various ideological clashes such as the extreme left and the extreme right.
As stated by Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin, all parties should abandon divisive politics. Imron also emphasized the appeal of the presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo so that the presidential candidates do not insult each other.
“If this ‘wisdom’ is also followed by all presidential and vice presidential candidates and other election contestants, then the flexible power of Pancasila in dampening the five-year political dynamics will be maintained. This is a warning to certain groups not to try to test Pancasila’s ability to moderate differences coming from all over,” he said.
On the same occasion, the reform politician who is also Secretary General of the Gelora Party Mahfudz Sidiq said that in the context of civilization there is a 100 year cycle. Where during the 78 years of Indonesia’s independence, Indonesia still has 22 years left from now to complete the great journey of 100 years of history.
“Our nation will become a country that is not only economically strong, but politically respected as a developed country in the world,” said Mahfudz.
Mahfudz noted that there were three main challenges faced by Pancasila ideology.
“First, the challenge is to eliminate the contradictions in attitudes, behavior and actions towards the teachings of Pancasila. For example, corrupt behavior, LGBT, and cultural liberalization. The second challenge is to strengthen the nation’s collective vision towards a new power in the world in 2045. The third challenge is to develop national resilience in the context of facing global dynamics. This can be done by not becoming a proxy or part of a global force,” he continued.
Mahfudz explained that the main threat to Pancasila ideology is the proxy of global forces in an asymmetric war. Then, the flow of liberalization in the trend of open society. Another threat is political industrialization.
“The number of political consultants, pollsters, that makes the political adrenaline of many parties rise, so that those who have never joined a political organization and do not have an ideology, are trapped in political games without vision and make our democracy Wani Piro,” said Mahfudz.
Chairman of the State Civil Apparatus Commission (KASN) Agus Pramusinto, also advised the importance of the neutrality of ASN which has been tested a lot. According to Agus, politics in Indonesia often drags ASN down.
“Follow the wrong, do not follow the wrong. So, if they are ASN involved, it will make the work of the bureaucracy ineffective. Because what emerges is the politics of reciprocity, the politics of revenge,” he concluded.
Agus highlighted data from Bawaslu, which revealed that in the 2020-2021 period, when regional elections were held in 270 regions, violations of ASN neutrality reached 2,034. Of the number of violations, 1,373 ASN were sanctioned by the civil service supervisor (PPK).
“We have entered the political year and next year’s peak, there will be 548 Pilkada and Pileg as well as the Presidential Election. The potential for chaos will multiply. Now if followed by social media, the term cebong, kadrun still exists. And if it continues, it is dangerous,” he added.
So, his party invited ASN to place themselves in a neutral position in the election.
“Because if it doesn’t affect public services in the future. This is one of the challenges faced by Pancasila, where we still often have the potential to be divided because of politics,” he concluded.
