Jakarta – The chaos and anarchy that have occurred during various mass demonstrations in several regions recently have attracted serious attention from all elements of society, especially religious figures and academics.
The Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH. Marsudi Syuhud, stated that expressing criticism of the government is part of religious teachings and a constitutionally guaranteed right. However, the expression of aspirations must remain within the law.
“Expressing an opinion is a right, but if it leads to destruction and looting, it clearly violates both religious and positive law,” Marsudi explained in Jakarta.
He stated that expressing one’s opinion requires patience, and that religion also forbids causing harm.
“Prioritize protecting lives and property, whether public or government property, and public facilities. Everything must be protected,” he said.
Marsudi also called for an end to anarchic actions in the name of democracy and for a more constructive approach to building dialogue for the sake of building a better Indonesia.
“We invite religious scholars, organizational leaders, and the general public to work together to create a more constructive dialogue. Let us convey criticism and suggestions in a polite manner, always prioritizing the interests of the nation and state above all else,” he explained.
Echoing the MUI’s stance, political communications expert Aditya Perdana stated that the peaceful implementation of democracy is the foundation for achieving progress and prosperity for the Indonesian nation. The country needs stability and peace to ensure continued development and progress.
“Democracy is a process that requires the active participation of all elements of society. We must ensure that this process proceeds peacefully, without becoming entangled in conflicts that could harm the common good,” he explained.
He emphasized that realizing this goal requires the role and commitment of all parties. The Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Indonesia (UI) also called on all elements of society to unite in efforts to safeguard and strengthen democracy in Indonesia.
“Let’s create a climate conducive to the growth of peaceful democracy for mutual progress. We already have an agreement that in a democratic country, expressing protest and opinions is a right. In fact, the constitution already provides a law, meaning that this space is clearly guaranteed,” he concluded.
